Experiments that help improve fertility

Multiple randomized trials find L-carnitine improves sperm motility and morphology, working through direct fuel transport rather than general antioxidant support.

62% noticed a change156 tried

Established◆Supplement

Folic acid before conception

Starting folic acid before you conceive, not after a positive test, cuts the risk of neural tube defects by roughly 60% in a landmark randomized trial.

54% noticed a change110 tried

Moderate◆Supplement

CoQ10 for egg quality

A randomized trial found two months of CoQ10 before IVF meant more eggs retrieved and more high-quality embryos in women with diminished ovarian reserve.

54% noticed a change143 tried

Moderate◆Supplement

CoQ10 for sperm quality

A 26-week randomized trial found ubiquinol meaningfully improved sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in men with unexplained infertility.

49% noticed a change111 tried

Moderate◎Lifestyle

Weight and ovulation

Modest weight loss reliably restores ovulation in women with PCOS and obesity, but being underweight or over-exercising causes anovulation through the opposite mechanism.

47% noticed a change165 tried

Emerging◆Supplement

Melatonin for egg quality

Melatonin is a potent antioxidant concentrated in the fluid around developing eggs, but the best-designed trial to date found no significant improvement in actual pregnancy or embryo outcomes.

45% noticed a change156 tried

Established◎Lifestyle

Heat and sperm quality

The testes sit outside the body specifically to stay a few degrees cooler than core temperature, and everyday heat sources measurably undo that, in ways that are fully reversible.

44% noticed a change125 tried

Established◎Lifestyle

Quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol

Smoking and heavy alcohol use measurably reduce fertility for both partners and lower IVF success rates, and unlike most fertility interventions, the evidence here is genuinely settled.

40% noticed a change165 tried

Moderate◆Supplement

Vitamin D and IVF success

Women replete in vitamin D have meaningfully higher live birth rates after fertility treatment than those who are deficient, according to a meta-analysis of over 2,000 patients.

36% noticed a change61 tried

Moderate◆Supplement

Omega-3 for sperm count

Sperm cell membranes are unusually rich in DHA, and a placebo-controlled trial found omega-3 supplementation nearly doubled sperm concentration in men with poor semen quality.

31% noticed a change121 tried

Established◷Protocol

Timing intercourse to your fertile window

Conception is only possible in roughly a 6-day window each cycle, and tracking your actual signs of ovulation, not a generic calendar guess, is what makes timing precise.

26% noticed a change152 tried

The top experiment