Over-the Counter Therapies for Male-Factor Infertility
Are men using over-the counter therapies to treat their infertility?
Most definitely!
Two reports show widespread use of alternative therapies for male factor infertility. The most commonly used self-administered supplements were antioxidants, with 92/147 (63%) using vitamin C or E, selenium, or zinc. Further, many men (11%) surveyed reported admitted using herbal preparations. Schoer (2002) reported a similar percentage of men taking herbs. The two most common herbal preparations being used were compounds containing ginseng or DHEA (dehydroepiandosterone). The Schoer study emphasized that, while the men took these preparations, over 80% had known medical causes of their infertility, such as varicocele, ejaculatory duct obstruction, or excessive marijuana use and, therefore, the herbal preparations would be unlikely to increase the pregnancy rate for these men.