Our work is dedicated to one main focus: help patients achieve the highest probability of conceiving, whether naturally or supporting them with assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). So we have for years, and will continue to share leading research as it is becomes available to help provide informative, educational and empowering information to help create an unfair advantage when it comes to trying to beat infertility.
Today is a very exciting day because I get to share the results of an updated systematic review on the role of antioxidants + minerals for male patients, and how this has been shown to drastically support pregnancy rates for patients going for in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
A new research paper combined and analyzed data from 20 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) treating male partners with a combination of up to 20 different micronutrients or minerals and checked to see if this improved pregnancy rates. This is building on promising new research that has hypothesized that a large portion of sperm-factor infertility (including epigenetic issues, beyond just motility and concentration tests) is caused by oxidative stress, a form of chemical stress that damages sperm cells and lowers the integrity of their genetic material (DNA).
The results from this review were impressive! On average, couples where the partner used a combination of evidence based micronutrients and antioxidants to support sperm health and integrity leading up to the fertility treatment were 89% more likely to have a positive clinical pregnancy when compared to couples that used placebo. If a couple was estimated to have only a 15% chance of pregnancy without any antioxidant treatment, utilizing these treatments leading up to the fertility treatment cycle would increase the probability of clinical pregnancy to 20%-30%. These results are astonishing when considering the financial, emotional and temporal investments that goes in to fertility cycles and how optimizing sperm health may give couples an unfair advantage in preparing for these treatments.
It is important to note that the studies included in this review were small and the researchers suggested that higher quality of research be done, however, it is important to discuss with your licensed Naturopathic Doctor if these therapies may be of benefit for your case and what risks may be associated with them. In this review, mild gastrointestinal upset was the main side effect noticed from these therapies. Use of these treatments must be done on a case-by-case basis and under supervised treatment to ensure that safe and effective doses and combination of nutrients are being used.
This article is being shared as educational content and is in no way a replacement for medical advice or medical care, it is advised that anyone concerned about their Health should speak with their Naturopathic Doctor. Please discuss with your healtcare provider and only make changes to your medications regimen if recommended by your doctor and under their guidance and supervision.
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