Fertility and Infertility
For many men, fathering a child is an important, almost essential, part of life, so problems related to fertility can be extremely distressing. Infertility is defined as the condition in which a sexually active couple has had difficulty getting pregnant for several months or longer.
A difficulty in fertility is referred to as “male factor” infertility if it is traced to a problem with the man's sperm — either there aren't enough, they are damaged in some way, or they're having a problem with motility (the ability to move freely and spontaneously).
Depending on the diagnosis, conventional medical treatments for male factor infertility can involve drugs (antibiotics to treat an infection, for example), hormones (to treat low testosterone levels), or surgery (to treat a pituitary tumor or an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum, called varicocele).
If your doctor can't trace your problem to any of these conditions, you might want to try an herbal remedy that's known to boost male fertility.
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) |
This is a classic remedy in Chinese medicine for male factor infertility. Modern research has shown that extracts can enhance sperm motility. |
• Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) |
This herb, also known as Siberian ginseng, can enhance the body's response to stress (and thus can help with stress-related infertility problems). Research has shown that eleuthero extracts can enhance sperm motility. |
• Goji-berry (Lycium barbarum, L. chinense) |
The fruits of the lycium plant, also known as wolfberries, are considered a tonic, or superior, medicine in Chinese herbalism and are used to treat impotence, sexual debility, and low sperm count (the plant is also known as matrimony vine). Modern research shows that goji-berry can improve sperm quantity and quality. |
Male infertility can be tied to genetics, problems with your immune system, the use of some medications (including steroids, antihypertensives, antidepressants, and anticancer drugs), chronic infection, hormone disorders (in the pituitary gland or testicles), or a physical issue such as a blockage in the sperm duct.
