Fertility Supplements for Men

Introduction to Fertility Supplements

The American Urological Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2021 guideline states that there are no clear, reliable data to support the use of various supplements, including folate derivatives, for men attempting conception, emphasizing the questionable value of supplements for men without fertility issues 1
The World Health Organization 2017 guideline strongly recommends, based on low-quality evidence, that there are insufficient data to recommend the use of supplemental antioxidant therapies for the treatment of men with abnormal semen parameters and/or male infertility 2

The American Urological Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2021 guideline emphasizes that the benefits of supplements, such as antioxidants and vitamins, are of questionable clinical utility in treating male infertility 1
Men with normal fertility should focus on general health measures, such as maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, and limiting exposure to environmental toxins, rather than relying on supplements 1

High-dose folate supplementation can alter sperm DNA methylation patterns, which could theoretically impact embryo development, highlighting the potential risks of unnecessary supplementation 2
The use of supplements may create false hope or unnecessary expense, and ignoring potential risks, such as the impact of high-dose folate supplementation on sperm DNA methylation, can have unintended consequences 1