Many families struggle with fertility problems, and many go through years of treatments that don’t always work — and always put financial and emotional strain on the couples who want so desperately to have a child.
But what if something as simple as a supplement could help? Could it be that something so easy and so readily available could be the key to welcoming a little bundle of joy into your life?
Well, according to new research published in the Cochrane Library, the answer could be yes — if the problem is male sub-fertility.
Researchers reviewed 34 trials involving 2,876 couples who were undergoing treatments like in vitro fertilization and sperm injections. Most of the men involved had low sperm counts or motility.
The research team found that, if the male half of the couple took antioxidants, the couple was more likely to get pregnant and have a succesful pregnancy. Other small trials have shown positive effects of antioxidants on sperm motility and concentration.
Antioxidants help reduce damage done by reactive oxygen species, which damage sperm cells and make it harder for couples to conceive.
The lead researcher for this recent review said the results are promising enough to encourage men to take antioxidants to increase chances of pregnancy. There were many different types of antioxidants — all taken orally — involved in the trial, and researchers are hoping the next step is to put those antioxidants side-by-side to see which are best when it comes to boosting a family’s chances of welcoming their little bundle of joy.