Natural Treatments for Male Factor Infertility

Male Factor Infertility poster dads biking yello and green text

My Personal Fertility Journey

Male factor infertility can be a sensitive topic. I experienced my own fertility concerns in the past due to preexisting urological conditions. However, natural approaches supported my fertility which gave me the beautiful family I love and cherish today. For those facing male factor infertility, physicians like me are here to help.

What is Male Factor Infertility?

Male factor infertility is diagnosed through sexual history, physical exam, and at least two semen analyses showing abnormalities. Hormone testing and scrotal ultrasound may also be used. Male factor infertility is common and contributes to 50% of all infertility cases.¹

Causes of Male Factor Infertility

Reduced Testosterone: Aging men may experience hormonal changes such as andropause. Obesity, inactivity, alcohol, and drug use can also lower testosterone.²
Structural Abnormalities: Conditions like varicocele (enlarged scrotal veins) may also impair fertility. Surgery or natural therapies can also be helpful in these cases.¹
Other Causes: Additional causes contributing to male factor infertility include environmental toxins, genetics, medications, malignancy, sexual dysfunction, infections, and immune conditions. Some cases remain idiopathic.¹

Treatments

First-line treatments includes lifestyle changes—better diet, exercise, sleep, and avoiding alcohol or drugs. If needed, medications such as clomiphene, tamoxifen, or anastrozole can improve testosterone production without harming sperm.¹ Testosterone replacement, however, usually worsens fertility. If medications fail, surgery may be required. Varicoceles affect about 15% of men; while often benign, they occur at a high incidence (40%) in infertile males.³ Surgical correction of varicoceles may also improve fertility in men.⁴ Assisted reproductive technology (IVF, sperm extraction, donor sperm) may also be considered.¹

Natural Medicine Options

Pycnogenol: An antioxidant shown to improve sperm morphology, motility, and semen quality in both animal and human studies.⁵⁻⁷
Myo-Inositol: While often used in women with PCOS, it has been shown to improve sperm motility and conception rates in men.⁸⁻¹⁰
Zinc: Higher seminal zinc correlates with improved sperm count, motility, and testosterone. Supplementation or zinc-rich foods may help.¹¹ ¹²
Scrotal Cooling: Heat impairs sperm function. Cooling therapies (ice packs, airflow, immersion) may improve parameters, though comfort and compliance can be challenges.13-21

If you’re ready to explore how naturopathic medicine can help you with male factor infertility, we’re here to support you. Schedule a visit with Pohala Clinic provider to take the first step.

Works Cited:

Leslie, Stephen W., Taylor L. Soon-Sutton, and Moien AB Khan. “Male Infertility.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/.
Frungieri, Mónica B., Ricardo S. Calandra, Andrzej Bartke, and María E. Matzkin. “Male and Female Gonadal Ageing: Its Impact on Health Span and Life Span.” Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 197 (July 2021): 111519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2021.111519.
“Varicocele.” Accessed July 17, 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/varicocele.
Leslie, Stephen W., Hussain Sajjad, and Larry E. Siref. “Varicocele.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448113/.
Kim, Sung-Hwan, In-Chul Lee, Hyung-Seon Baek, Changjong Moon, Seong-Soo Kang, Chun-Sik Bae, Sung-Ho Kim, Dong-Ho Shin, and Jong-Choon Kim. “Pycnogenol® Prevents Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Spermatotoxicity in Rats.” Molecular & Cellular Toxicology 8, no. 3 (September 1, 2012): 249–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-012-0030-8.
Roseff, Scott J. “Improvement in Sperm Quality and Function with French Maritime Pine Tree Bark Extract.” The Journal of Reproductive Medicine 47, no. 10 (October 2002): 821–24.
Stanislavov, R., V. Nikolova, and P. Rohdewald. “Improvement of Seminal Parameters with Prelox®: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-over Trial.” Phytotherapy Research 23, no. 3 (2009): 297–302. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2592.
Unfer, Vittorio, Fabio Facchinetti, Beatrice Orrù, Barbara Giordani, and John Nestler. “Myo-Inositol Effects in Women with PCOS: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Endocrine Connections 6, no. 8 (September 20, 2017): 647–58. https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-17-0243.
Seyedoshohadaei, Fariba, Shahin Abbasi, Masoumeh Rezaie, Azra Allahvaisi, Mohammad Jafar Rezaie, Nasrin Soufizadeh, and Khaled Rahmani. “Myo-Inositol Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes in Infertile Women Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: A Double-Blind RCT.” International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine 20, no. 8 (September 6, 2022): 643–50. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i8.11753.
Ghasemi, Afsane, Fatemehsadat Amjadi, Seyedeh Masoumeh Ghazi Mirsaeed, Robabeh Mohammad Beigi, Samaneh Ghasemi, Yousef Moradi, and Seyedeh Tahereh Ghazi Mirsaeed. “The Effect of Myo-Inositol on Sperm Parameters and Pregnancy Rate in Oligoasthenospermic Men Treated with IUI: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine 17, no. 10 (November 7, 2019): 749–56. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v17i10.5296.
Osadchuk, Ludmila, Maxim Kleshchev, Anna Danilenko, and Alexander Osadchuk. “Impact of Seminal and Serum Zinc on Semen Quality and Hormonal Status: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Russian Young Men.” Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 68 (December 1, 2021): 126855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126855.
Zečević, Nebojša, Aleksandra Veselinović, Milan Perović, and Aleksandar Stojsavljević. “Association Between Zinc Levels and the Impact of Its Deficiency on Idiopathic Male Infertility: An Up-to-Date Review.” Antioxidants 14, no. 2 (February 2025): 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020165.
Gorman, Rachael Moeller. “Zinc: What It Does for the Body, and the Best Food Sources.” Harvard Health, April 7, 2025. https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/zinc-what-it-does-for-the-body-and-the-best-food-sources.
Thonneau, P., L. Bujan, L. Multigner, and R. Mieusset. “Occupational Heat Exposure and Male Fertility: A Review.” Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) 13, no. 8 (August 1998): 2122–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/13.8.2122.
Rao, M., W. Xia, J. Yang, L.-X. Hu, S.-F. Hu, H. Lei, Y.-Q. Wu, and C.-H. Zhu. “Transient Scrotal Hyperthermia Affects Human Sperm DNA Integrity, Sperm Apoptosis, and Sperm Protein Expression.” Andrology 4, no. 6 (2016): 1054–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12228.
Shefi, Shai, Phiroz E. Tarapore, Thomas J. Walsh, Mary Croughan, and Paul J. Turek. “Wet Heat Exposure: A Potentially Reversible Cause of Low Semen Quality in Infertile Men.” International Braz J Urol: Official Journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology 33, no. 1 (2007): 50–56; discussion 56-57. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1677-55382007000100008.
Mulcahy, John J. “Scrotal Hypothermia and the Infertile Man.” The Journal of Urology, September 1984. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(17)49694-7.
Nikolopoulos, I., W. Osman, Z. Haoula, K. Jayaprakasan, and W. Atiomo. “Scrotal Cooling and Its Benefits to Male Fertility: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 33, no. 4 (May 1, 2013): 338–42. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2012.758088.
Jung, A., W. -B. Schill, and H. -C. Schuppe. “Improvement of Semen Quality by Nocturnal Scrotal Cooling in Oligozoospermic Men with a History of Testicular Maldescent.” International Journal of Andrology 28, no. 2 (2005): 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2004.00517.x.
Benidir, Tarik, Taylor Remondini, Susan Lau, and Keith A. Jarvi. “Evaluation of Patient Compliance with the Use of Scrotal Cooling Devices.” F&S Reports 2, no. 3 (June 30, 2021): 289–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2021.06.007.
Huo, Chuanyi, Zikai Song, Jianli Yin, Ying Zhu, Xiaohan Miao, Honghao Qian, Jia Wang, Lin Ye, and Liting Zhou. “Effect of Acute Cold Exposure on Energy Metabolism and Activity of Brown Adipose Tissue in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Frontiers in Physiology 13 (June 28, 2022): 917084. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.917084.

Author

Alex Cullen ND Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) Master’s of Science in Clinical Research (MCR) Bachelor’s of Science Major: Wellness and Alternative Medicine (WAM) with a minor in Chemistry

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Natural Treatments for Male Factor Infertility

Leslie, Stephen W., Taylor L. Soon-Sutton, and Moien AB Khan. “Male Infertility.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/.

Frungieri, Mónica B., Ricardo S. Calandra, Andrzej Bartke, and María E. Matzkin. “Male and Female Gonadal Ageing: Its Impact on Health Span and Life Span.” Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 197 (July 2021): 111519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2021.111519.

“Varicocele.” Accessed July 17, 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/varicocele.

Leslie, Stephen W., Hussain Sajjad, and Larry E. Siref. “Varicocele.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448113/.

Roseff, Scott J. “Improvement in Sperm Quality and Function with French Maritime Pine Tree Bark Extract.” The Journal of Reproductive Medicine 47, no. 10 (October 2002): 821–24.

Stanislavov, R., V. Nikolova, and P. Rohdewald. “Improvement of Seminal Parameters with Prelox®: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-over Trial.” Phytotherapy Research 23, no. 3 (2009): 297–302. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2592.

Unfer, Vittorio, Fabio Facchinetti, Beatrice Orrù, Barbara Giordani, and John Nestler. “Myo-Inositol Effects in Women with PCOS: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Endocrine Connections 6, no. 8 (September 20, 2017): 647–58. https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-17-0243.

Gorman, Rachael Moeller. “Zinc: What It Does for the Body, and the Best Food Sources.” Harvard Health, April 7, 2025. https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/zinc-what-it-does-for-the-body-and-the-best-food-sources.

Thonneau, P., L. Bujan, L. Multigner, and R. Mieusset. “Occupational Heat Exposure and Male Fertility: A Review.” Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) 13, no. 8 (August 1998): 2122–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/13.8.2122.

Rao, M., W. Xia, J. Yang, L.-X. Hu, S.-F. Hu, H. Lei, Y.-Q. Wu, and C.-H. Zhu. “Transient Scrotal Hyperthermia Affects Human Sperm DNA Integrity, Sperm Apoptosis, and Sperm Protein Expression.” Andrology 4, no. 6 (2016): 1054–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12228.

Mulcahy, John J. “Scrotal Hypothermia and the Infertile Man.” The Journal of Urology, September 1984. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(17)49694-7.

Nikolopoulos, I., W. Osman, Z. Haoula, K. Jayaprakasan, and W. Atiomo. “Scrotal Cooling and Its Benefits to Male Fertility: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 33, no. 4 (May 1, 2013): 338–42. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2012.758088.

Jung, A., W. -B. Schill, and H. -C. Schuppe. “Improvement of Semen Quality by Nocturnal Scrotal Cooling in Oligozoospermic Men with a History of Testicular Maldescent.” International Journal of Andrology 28, no. 2 (2005): 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2004.00517.x.

Benidir, Tarik, Taylor Remondini, Susan Lau, and Keith A. Jarvi. “Evaluation of Patient Compliance with the Use of Scrotal Cooling Devices.” F&S Reports 2, no. 3 (June 30, 2021): 289–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2021.06.007.