Ashwagandha is a small evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. Today it’s commonly used as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a class of substances that are believed to stimulate the body's resistance to physical, environmental and emotional stressors. There’s also interest in using it for male infertility. But does it actually help?
It’s unclear. Some early research shows that taking ashwagandha root powder for 3 months somewhat improves sperm count and motility, but study limitations affect the validity of these findings.
In addition to Ashwagandha, many other natural medicines have been studied for their potential effects on male infertility. Check out our Comparative Effectiveness Chart to learn more.
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