Although herbal supplements are all the rage these days, couples trying to have children and hoping to increase fertility may want to think twice before taking them.

"It has been demonstrated recently that echinacea, gingko biloba and St. John's wort have negative effects on sperm production and fertility," says Richard Blackwell, M.D., an OB/GYN in UAB's Reproductive Medicine Division.

Other factors that may influence fertility include smoking and the use of commercially available lubricants.

"Studies have consistently shown that these compounds are deleterious to sperm motility and viability."

However, according to another study in San Francisco, a natural substance obtained from the bark of French maritime pine trees might help shape up men's sperm and increase fertility.




Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham 

 Other news