Is artichoke extract safe and effective for enhancing fertility and conception in individuals or couples of childbearing age?

Artichoke Extract for Fertility and Conception

Artichoke extract should not be recommended for enhancing fertility or conception, as there is insufficient evidence to support its use in humans, and animal studies demonstrate potential reproductive harm during pregnancy.

Evidence Against Artichoke Extract Use

Lack of Human Evidence

• No clinical trials exist evaluating artichoke extract specifically for fertility enhancement in humans. The available guideline evidence on herbal therapies for male infertility explicitly excludes artichoke from studied compounds 1.
• The WHO and European Association of Urology guidelines strongly recommend against herbal therapies for treating male infertility based on very low-quality evidence, stating there are insufficient data to recommend their use 1.
• The AUA/ASRM guidelines counsel patients that supplements (including herbal products) are of questionable clinical utility in treating male infertility, with inadequate data to recommend specific agents 1.

Safety Concerns from Animal Studies

• A 2019 rat study demonstrated clear reproductive toxicity: artichoke extract administered during pregnancy resulted in lower body weight gain, reduced fetal weight and length, decreased number of live pups per litter, and lower gravid uterus weight 2.
• The study authors concluded that "consumption of artichoke during pregnancy clearly has a negative impact on fetuses" 2.
• While no skeletal or visceral malformations were detected, the growth restriction and reduced litter viability raise significant safety concerns 2.

Contradictory Research Context

• One 2024 rat study suggested potential benefits of artichoke extract combined with probiotics in diabetic male rats, showing improvements in sperm parameters and hormonal profiles 3.
• However, this single animal study in a specific disease model (diabetes-induced infertility) cannot override the lack of human evidence and the demonstrated pregnancy-related toxicity 3.
• The study evaluated artichoke as part of combination therapy rather than as monotherapy, making it impossible to attribute effects specifically to artichoke 3.

Evidence-Based Alternatives

Proven Lifestyle Modifications

• Weight loss in overweight/obese men significantly improves sperm parameters and should be the primary recommendation 4.
• Regular physical exercise improves sperm quality and overall health 1, 4.
• Smoking cessation improves sperm parameters and should be strongly encouraged 1, 4.

Limited Evidence for Supplements

• The 2025 European Association of Urology guidelines note that antioxidant therapy may improve live birth rates, but when high-risk-of-bias studies are removed, this benefit disappears 1, 4.
• A Cochrane review of 48 studies found only 4 reported live births, with low-quality evidence and insufficient data on adverse effects 1.
• Any intervention requires at least 74 days (2.5 months) to show effects due to the duration of spermatogenesis 4.

Clinical Recommendations

For Patients Seeking Fertility Enhancement

• Prioritize proven lifestyle modifications: achieve healthy weight, exercise regularly, stop smoking 1, 4.
• Avoid unproven herbal supplements including artichoke extract, as they lack efficacy data and may pose unknown risks 1.
• Women planning pregnancy should absolutely avoid artichoke extract given the demonstrated fetal growth restriction in animal models 2.

For Patients Already Using Artichoke Extract

• Discontinue use when planning conception or during pregnancy due to potential reproductive toxicity 2.
• Counsel that no human data support fertility benefits, and animal data suggest harm during pregnancy 2.
• Redirect focus to evidence-based interventions including assisted reproductive technology if indicated 1.

Important Caveats

• The heterogeneity of herbal supplement preparations makes safety and efficacy assessments challenging, as standardization is lacking 1.
• Patients may not disclose herbal supplement use; actively inquire about all supplements during fertility evaluations 1.
• The primary outcome for fertility interventions should be live birth rate, not just semen parameter improvements 1.