- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical editor-in-chief, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for MayoClinic.com to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a consultant and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education for Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs before taking this leadership role. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this Web site. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
More answers
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- Freezing eggs: An option for future pregnancies?
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- Semen allergy: A cause of infertility?
- Male masturbation: Does frequency affect male fertility?
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Question
Fertility herbs and supplements: Do they enhance fertility?
My husband and I have been trying unsuccessfully for more than a year to get pregnant. I've seen many ads for fertility herbs and supplements. Do they work?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Infertility can be a difficult problem to treat, and modern interventions — while sometimes effective — can be expensive. So, it's not surprising that some people look to herbs and supplements as a possible alternative treatment to this vexing problem. Unfortunately, the research on so-called fertility herbs and supplements is scant.
For male infertility, one study showed increased sperm motility in men who took a combination of acetyl-L-carnitine and L-carnitine. This resulted in a slight increase in pregnancies among study participants. Another study showed that men with low sperm counts who took vitamin E had a higher rate of fertilization than did those taking a placebo. However, other studies found no improvement in male fertility when vitamin E was combined with vitamin C or selenium. A few studies have suggested that coenzyme Q10 and folic acid may improve sperm counts or motility. But more research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether such findings lead to improved fertility.
For women, the evidence is even less encouraging. A few small studies have suggested that supplementation with vitamin C may improve fertility in women who have ovulation disorders. But much more research is needed to clarify these findings.
In short, at this time, there doesn't appear to be compelling evidence for any herbal therapy or supplements as a treatment for infertility. Also, herbal and nutritional supplements are subjected to limited regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and are only now starting to be held to rigorous purity and quality standards.
In addition, conventional hormone and drug treatments for infertility are complex regimens. It's not known how herbs or supplements may interact with such treatments. So until research more clearly defines the risks and benefits of fertility herbs and supplements, conventional treatment for infertility appears to be the best option.
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