Over-the-Counter Infertility Pills Give Women False Hope

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

Suppose you are a woman struggling with infertility and have been frantically searching the Web for “cures” and other answers to your problems. In that case, there is a good chance you have encountered advertisements for “infertility pills”, supplements supposedly designed to help you conquer your infertility and set you on your way to conception. These are easy to purchase through sites like Amazon and other platforms.

However, you must stop and take heed. When we are desperate, we will reach for anything that we see as a possible solution to our troubles, but it is important to understand that these so-called fertility pills will do little to help you and could, in fact, 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 statement of warning to five companies selling supplements that claimed to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent infertility and address 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.

Indeed, these pills have not only offered false hope to the women who decided to try them, but they simultaneously dissuaded these individuals from seeking what they needed—a consultation with a reproductive specialist who could pinpoint the possible reasons why they aren’t able to conceive.

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 her own 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

It is important to remember that not only don’t these drugs do what they often claim to do, but online-marketed infertility pills are also not regulated by the FDA and could potentially cause incrementally dangerous reactions or interact adversely with other medications or viable supplements the user may already be taking.

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.

At Advanced Reproductive Medicine, we treat each of our patients as an individual. We tailor treatment options to fit the specific patient’s needs by addressing the causes of their unique infertility issues. We undertake thorough evaluations, have an honest dialogue, and promise to remain at your side and guide you from start to finish. By making the most of our knowledge of all cutting-edge treatments that offer the highest chances of success and by caring for every patient with ongoing compassion and integrity, we are proud of the track record we have set for so many well-deserving patients and couples over the years. To schedule an appointment with our team of experts, please schedule a consultation, or call us at 732-339-9300.