One thing you don’t see very often is blog posts on infertility. This blog will address a common issue and some natural solutions to consider. According to a study published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, “Infertility affects an estimated 15% of couples globally, amounting to 48.5 million couples. Men are found to contribute to 50% of cases overall.”[i] Let’s face it, what man wants to discuss their infertility issue openly. This topic goes entirely against the male ego. However, I can speak personally about this topic as I went through testing for infertility when we were “trying” to have a child. Luckily, my tests came back negative, and so did my wife’s. While negative test results aren’t that helpful, we now have a helpful blog to guide you into natural approaches to addressing male infertility.
Potential causes of male infertility:
- Problems with sperm
- Low count
- Motility
- Morphology (shape and size)
- Erection issues
- Hormonal problems
- Obstruction of the passage of sperm
- Other functional issues
- Injury to testes
- Removal of the prostate gland
- Other conditions
- Diabetes
- MS
- Lifestyle
- Cigarette smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Recreational drugs
- STDs
- Heat (negative impact on testes)
- Steroid use (anabolic, i.e., bodybuilding)
Natural Health to the Rescue
Taking a closer look at all of these, we can immediately take care of the last area of lifestyle. Since lifestyle is in our control, nothing is more natural than stopping habits. In addition, functional issues and obstructions should be addressed with your healthcare provider. Regarding the other areas, there are things we can do or take to help.
Problems with Sperm
Starting with the top “Problems with Sperm,” let’s have a quick biology lesson. Sperm motility is the amount of sperm that can swim forward. If you haven’t ever seen a sperm cell, it looks like a tadpole and has a tail to make it “swim” just like a fish. If sperm cells are not mobile, they can’t make the journey to reach the egg for fertilization. Morphology refers to the percentage of sperm with the proper shape and size. Abnormal shape and size will impact the ability to fertilize the egg. So, as we can see, motility and morphology play essential roles in the man’s part of infertility.
I can think of one candidate that fits perfectly; SibeliusTM: LactoMato (SL for short in this article). SL is a unique and very different version of the popular antioxidant lycopene. SL is a form of lycopene with superior absorption and availability to your bloodstream. For this reason, SL stands above other forms of lycopene.
A recent study showed that SibeliusTM: LactoMato improves sperm motility and morphology in healthy men in just 12 weeks. The study looked specifically at sperm health. The men took either placebo or 700mg of Sibelius™: LactoMato daily for 12 weeks.
Why does lycopene help with infertility?
Lycopene, in general, is found in high concentrations in the testes and seminal plasma, and decreased levels have been observed in men who have infertility.[ii] Lycopene has been shown to benefit infertility in men in a few promising ways. One is in its ability to decrease oxidative stress, i.e., act as an antioxidant.[iii] Excessive amounts of free radicals lead to decreased sperm viability and motility and are a significant cause of idiopathic (unknown cause) male infertility.
Erection and Hormonal Issues
There are several reasons a man can have problems achieving or maintaining an erection. While many reach for the “little blue pill,” there are some natural ingredients to help with some of the underlying reasons this may be a problem. Before reaching for these natural solutions, it is advisable to make sure there are no other underlying issues in which you need medical attention (please consult with your healthcare provider). Certain medications, hormonal problems, alcohol abuse, illegal drugs, cardiovascular issues, and neurological and nerve disorders are all potential causes of erectile difficulties.
I like to look at erectile issues in a few ways; address the stress, circulation, libido, and testosterone support. With regards to managing the stress, three ingredients rise to the top of my list, Sensoril® (ashwagandha), affron® (saffron), and Zembrin®. Each has its unique mechanism of action to address the mood and stress issues that impact libido and erectile problems. Unfortunately, there are no direct studies with these ingredients about our topic, but they each have clinical proof they work for mood and stress.
Three other ingredients that I feel are important here are Liboost, Testofen®, and Tesnor. All three of these ingredients have been studied. Here is why:
Liboost- addressing circulation, libido, and hormones
Liboost helps men by increasing circulation (essential to get blood flow to the penis to get an erection), helps relax the smooth muscles, which are important for improved sexual response, and helps testosterone levels be balanced.
Testofen®- addressing libido and hormones
Testofen® studies show it helps support healthy testosterone levels, promotes sexual desire and vitality, and reduces recovery time following sexual activity. All are beneficial for our topic.
Tesnor- addressing hormones
Tesnor is unique because it is a blend of two botanicals (cocoa bean and pomegranate peel). Studies with Tesnor show it helps increase testosterone levels.
The best way to address your infertility problems is to seek medical advice to make sure there aren’t any medically treatable problems. Second, address your lifestyle challenges to improve your health and chances of conception. Last, consider a full-on approach by loading up on supplements. A combination of taking SibeliusTM: Lactomato, supplements for stress (Sensoril®, affron®, Zembrin® or all three), and Liboost + Testofen® or Liboost + Tesnor.
Other supplements can be helpful with infertility and can also be considered beneficial. My other favorites are Ubiquinol (CoQ10), Vitamin D3, Tribulus, Zinc, and Maca root. In some cases, these would be added to my suggestions above. I am a huge fan of Ubiquinol and D3 as they are a part of my daily supplement regimen.
[i] Agarwal A, Mulgund A, Hamada A, Chyatte MR. A unique view on male infertility around the globe. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015 April 26;13:37. doi: 10.1186/s12958-015-0032-1. PMID: 25928197; PMCID: PMC4424520.
[ii] Gupta NP, Kumar R., Lycopene therapy in idiopathic male infertility–a preliminary report., Int Urol Nephrol. 2002;34(3):369-72
[iii] Durairajanayagam, D., Agarwal, A., Ong, C., & Prashast, P. (2014). Lycopene and male infertility. Asian journal of andrology, 16(3), 420–425. doi:10.4103/1008-682X.126384