Male Infertility Supplements: The Complete Guide For Boosting Male Fertility [2024]
February 29, 2024
Essential Takeaways
- Male infertility is fairly common and often completely treatable with medical intervention.
- One-size-fits-all male infertility supplements are unlikely to yield the desired results.
- Customized herbal medicine plans can sometimes improve male fertility.
Encountering obstacles when trying to become pregnant can be frustrating and discouraging for any couple. In the United States, about 10% to 15% of men who are trying to conceive struggle with infertility.
While coming to terms with difficulty conceiving can be emotional, it’s important to remember that there are many promising treatments available. In some cases,
male infertility supplements and customized herbal medicines can improve fertility.
What are male infertility supplements?
Male infertility supplements are usually blends of herbs and vitamins that have been designed to improve the male reproductive processes such as producing healthy sperm. Depending on the root cause of male infertility, herbal medicines may help address the problem.
It’s important to talk with your doctor to determine the cause of infertility, as some causes require other medical interventions while others are entirely treatable.
Male Infertility Definition
Male infertility refers to a disease or condition that impacts the reproductive system and causes a male to be unable to start a pregnancy with his female partner.
Potential Male Infertility Causes
Male infertility can occur due to a wide range of possible causes, including:
- Inherited disorders
- Trouble with sexual function
- Hormonal imbalance
- A blocked sperm passage
- Low sex drive
- Varicocele
- Infection
- Tumors
- Complications from past surgeries
Male Fertility Supplements vs Customized Herbal Medicine for Male Fertility
It’s important to understand that herbal supplements are not the same as customized herbal medicine. While herbal supplements are convenient to purchase, they use a one-size-fits-all approach that often does not produce the desired results.
Because every person is different and since various health factors can cause difficulties with fertility, a personalized approach is generally much more effective. That’s why Qi Health makes it easy to speak with certified Chinese Medicine Doctors to receive a customized blend of high-quality herbs.
The Best Herbal Medicine for Male Fertility
For best results and to protect your health and your investment, it’s best to opt for scientifically supported herbs for male fertility. Especially since supplements are not regulated by the FDA, it’s crucial to purchase all herbs from a lab-tested and all-natural source, like Qi Health.
Some of the most common herbs that can play a role in alleviating male infertility include the following:
- Chinese Skullcap
How Chinese Skullcap helps with male infertility:
Chinese Skullcap is commonly used to treat inflammation and clear heat. In Traditional Chinese medicine, male infertility is often attributed to blood stagnation, damp heat, and kidney yin and yang deficiency. By clearing heat, Chinese Skullcap can improve sperm quality.
- Cordyceps Sinensis
How Cordyceps Sinensis helps with male infertility:
Cordyceps Sinensis tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, addressing many of the root causes of sperm abnormalities according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also supports the immune system and some studies suggest that it can improve sperm quality when combined with other herbs.
- Epimedium
How Epimedium helps with male infertility:
Commonly called horny goat weed, epimedium is one of the most commonly used herbs for male sexual health. Epimedium extract may improve the quality of sperm and it can also increase sex drive and testosterone.
- Goji Berries
How Goji Berries help with male infertility:
Goji berries contain antioxidants, which are important for both male and female fertility. Goji berries may also help increase sperm count, benefit mental health, and regulate the temperature of the scrotum to provide the best environment for sperm production.
- Panax Ginseng
How Panax Ginseng helps with male infertility:
Ginseng contains ginsenosides, which have been shown to improve sperm quality and improve libido. It is often used to treat sexual dysfunction and problems with initiating an erection and has long been used as an aphrodisiac in many cultures.
- You Gui Wan
How You Gui Wan helps with male infertility:
You Gui Wan is a blend of herbs including Chinese yam, dogwood fruit, and lycium fruit. By enriching the blood, You Gui Wan can alleviate erectile dysfunction symptoms and may even improve the performance of sperm. It also warms the kidney yang.
- Zuo Gui Wan
How Zuo Gui Wan helps with male infertility:
Zuo Gui Wan is a blend of eight Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs and is often used to boost sperm productivity. Animal studies have shown promising results regarding Zuo Gui Wan’s ability to improve sperm quality.
- Gan Cao
How Gan Cao helps with male infertility:
Gan Cao, or licorice root, can help promote hormonal balance and alleviate pain. It can also clear heat and augment Qi.
- Chai Hu
How Chai Hu helps with male infertility:
Red thorowax root, or Chai Hu, can help relieve stress and reduce anxiety. Proper stress management is crucial for improving fertility. Chai Hu is also used to prolong sperm activity and improve blood flow.
- Zhi Shi
How Zhi Shi helps with male infertility:
By relieving stagnation, treating abdominal pain, and resolving hardenings, Zhi Shi can help improve male fertility.
- Chi Shao
How Chi Shao helps with male infertility:
Chi Shao is commonly used to improve both male and female reproductive health. It has been found to clear masses in the abdomen and reduce inflammation. Chi Shao also invigorates the blood.
- Dan Shen
How Dan Shen helps with male infertility:
Often used to treat blood stasis in the lower Jiao, Dan Shen can promote healthy blood flow and reduce erectile dysfunction.
- Fo Shou
How Fo Shou helps with male infertility:
Fo Shou promotes Qi movement and dries dampness. It is often used to improve blood flow, which can benefit male sexual performance.
Other Methods of Boosting Male Fertility
In addition to taking a customized blend of high-quality herbs for male fertility, consider the following lifestyle choices that can contribute to male reproductive health.
- Maintaining a healthy weight
Studies have found that carrying excess weight can cause lower sperm production, which in turn can make it more difficult to conceive. Maintaining a healthy weight often goes hand in hand with living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of overall mental and physical health, which can positively impact pregnancy attempts.
- Nutritious diet
Foods high in antioxidants may encourage healthy sperm and boost overall fertility. A diet rich in fish, fruits and vegetables, and walnuts can improve fertility outcomes. On the other hand, foods like processed meats, trans fats, soy, pesticides, and BPAs might contribute to lower sperm counts.
- Balanced Exercise
Exercise helps support your overall physical and mental health, which in itself plays an important role in being able to conceive. It can also increase testosterone levels and improve the quality of semen.
Overdoing it can have the opposite effect, though, so it’s important to find balance.
- Reducing & Managing Stress
Stress levels can impact sex drive, and intense stress can also reduce healthy sperm production. Learning how to manage your stress through yoga, walking, meditation and other self-care techniques can help boost your fertility.
Learn More About Male Infertility Supplements
Get answers to the most common questions about male infertility supplements.
Which supplement is best for male fertility?
The herbs listed above are the most commonly used in supplements for male fertility, but it is not effective to make blanket statements about fertility and reproductive health. The only way to determine the best herbs and supplements for your specific needs is to talk with your doctor and with a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.
Do male fertility supplements actually work?
By and large, there is still more research needed to determine whether male fertility supplements actually work. The best chance of seeing real benefits from herbal remedies is to get a fully customized herbal medicine plan from a certified Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor through Qi Health.
What pill can a man take to increase fertility?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to increase male fertility. Since fertility problems can stem from a wide range of issues, it’s important to address the true cause with any treatment or herbal medicine.
The doctors at Qi Health are available to discuss your specific health journey and goals to determine the best course of action for your needs.
Are there supplements males should avoid?
More research is still required to determine the true risks of some supplements for men specifically. Always talk with your doctor and with an expert in herbal medicine before beginning to take any new supplements or herbal medicines.
Choose the Best Solution For Male Infertility
For many individuals, unlocking fertility with Chinese herbal medicine is entirely possible. At the same time, it’s extremely unlikely that anyone will see results through a one-size-fits-all supplement found on the internet.
Instead, working with functional medicine doctors via online telehealth appointments is the best way to get truly customized herbal medicine plans that respond to your unique health situation and goals.
For the best results, use Qi Health for a personalized plan, a reliable pharmacy, and crucial follow-up appointments to adjust your blend and dose.
External Sources
- Male Infertility – Cleveland Clinic
- Male Infertility – Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Male Infertility – Mayo Clinic
- FDA
- Cordyceps sinensis combined with Jujing Pills for male infertility
- Excess weight may affect sperm production, reduce fertility in men – Harvard School of Public Health
- Ginseng and male reproductive function
- Effects of Zuogui Wan on testis structure and expression of c-Kit and Oct4 in rats with impaired spermatogenesis
- Healthy sperm: Improving your fertility – Mayo Clinic
- Don't make the mistake of letting a diet kill sperm – University of Chicago Medicine
- 10 Ways to Boost Male Fertility and Increase Sperm Count
- How can I improve my chances of becoming a dad? – NHS