Over-the-Counter Infertility Pills Give Women False Hope

They exist everywhere. Scam artists. Snake oil salesmen. Questionable doctors. Fast-talking salespeople peddling cures for various ailments and disorders have been around for centuries. Sadly, women have often been the target of these fake remedies, including pills and other treatments for everything from “female” anxiety to menopause symptoms. With the internet, pill-peddling has become easier than ever in the last 20-30 years.

If you are a woman struggling with infertility and searching the Web for "cures," you have likely encountered advertisements for "infertility pills"—supplements supposedly designed to help you conceive. These are easy to purchase through sites like Amazon and other platforms.

However, you must stop and take heed. When desperate, we may reach for anything that seems like a solution, but it is important to understand that these so-called fertility pills will do little to help you and could potentially harm you as well.

FDA Warnings

Less than a year ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to five companies selling supplements that claimed to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent infertility and other reproductive health disorders. They were asked to cease their false claims.

“Dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat or prevent infertility and other reproductive health conditions can potentially harm consumers who use these products instead of seeking effective treatments, such as FDA-approved drugs or assisted reproductive technology,” said Judy McMeekin, PharmD, FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs.

These pills have not only offered false hope to women who tried them, but have also dissuaded individuals from seeking what they truly need—a consultation with a reproductive specialist who can pinpoint the reasons for infertility.

The Truth About Over-the-Counter Infertility Pills

There is no one-size-fits-all cure or treatment for infertility. Every woman has her own story and set of obstacles. Unproven medical therapy, including "infertility pills," cannot accurately or comprehensively address the most frequent causes of the inability to conceive, which include:

• Ovulation disorders
• Uterine abnormalities
• Fallopian tube blockage
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic adhesions
• Smoking, obesity, and other environmental factors

Infertility issues may also not solely lie with the female partner. Men can often be the cause of the inability to conceive due to problems such as:

• Abnormal sperm production or function
• Issues with the delivery of sperm, such as erectile dysfunction or retrograde (backward) ejaculation
• Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, marijuana use, and other environmental factors

Not only do these drugs fail to deliver on their claims, but online-marketed infertility pills are also not regulated by the FDA and could cause dangerous reactions or interact adversely with other medications or supplements you may already be taking.

The Best Course of Action

The best course of action for a woman struggling to become pregnant is to schedule a consultation with a licensed, experienced, Board-Certified infertility doctor. Physicians specializing in treating women who are having difficulty conceiving will work to identify the root source of the problem(s), devise a plan to treat it/them, and both comprehensively and effectively set the patient on their way to starting a family of their own.