Improved semen quality and successful conception following probiotic supplementation in men with infertility

Sanjay Gupte; Aarti Shah; Preeti Arora; Shruti Jawale; Sarjan Shah

doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20264009

Authors

Sanjay Gupte Gupte Hospital, Postgraduate Institution and Centre of Research in Reproduction, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Aarti Shah Obstetrician and Gynecologist; Pulse Clinic, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Preeti Arora Research division of Accurate Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Shruti Jawale Research division of Accurate Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Sarjan Shah Greenarray Genomic Research and Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20264009

Keywords:

Male infertility, Probiotics, Semen parameters, Sperm motility, Fertility outcomes

Abstract

Male infertility contributes significantly to global infertility burden, with abnormal semen parameters being a common underlying factor. Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics may influence reproductive health through modulation of inflammatory and metabolic pathways; however, clinical outcome data remain limited. We report eight men presenting with abnormal semen parameters and infertility who received probiotic supplementation for a defined duration. Semen analysis was performed before and after supplementation according to standard guidelines. Clinical outcomes, including natural conception, were documented. All eight participants demonstrated improvement in one or more semen parameters, including sperm count, motility, and/or morphology following probiotic supplementation. Notably, successful conception was achieved in all cases within a defined follow-up period. The degree of improvement varied across individuals but showed a consistent trend toward normalization of semen profiles. This study highlights a compelling association between probiotic supplementation and improvement in semen parameters, with successful fertility outcomes. These observations support the growing potential of probiotics as an adjunctive strategy in male infertility and warrant further validation through controlled studies.

References

Aschauer J, Ott J, Selzer C, Ghobrial S, Fitz V, Hager M. The prevalence of abnormal semen parameters in male partners of women with anovulatory polycystic ovarian syndrome: a retrospective case-control study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2025;311(2):489-97.

Minhas S, Bettocchi C, Boeri L, Capogrosso P, Carvalho J, Cilesiz NC, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on male sexual and reproductive health: 2021 update on male infertility. Eur Urol. 2021;80(5):603-20.

Osadchiy V, Martin CR, Mayer EA. The gut-brain axis and the microbiome: mechanisms and clinical implications. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;17(2):322-32.

Osadchiy V, Mills JN, Mayer EA, Eleswarapu SV. The seminal microbiome and male factor infertility. Curr Sex Health Rep. 2020;12:202-7.

Helli B, Kavianpour M, Ghaedi E, Dadfar M, Haghighian HK. Probiotic effects on sperm parameters, oxidative stress index, inflammatory factors, and sex hormones in infertile men. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2022;25(3):499-507.

Maretti C, Cavallini G. The association of a probiotic with a prebiotic (Flortec®, Bracco) to improve the quality/quantity of spermatozoa in infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a pilot study. Andrology. 2017;5(3):439-44.

Martínez-Holguín E, Lledó-García E, Rebollo-Román Á, González-García J, Jara-Rascón J, Hernández-Fernández C. Antioxidants to improve sperm quality. In: Parekattil SJ, Esteves SC, Agarwal A, editors. Male and sperm factors that maximize IVF success. Cham: Springer; 2020. p. 95-106.

Valcarce DG, Genovés S, Riesco MF, Martorell P, Herráez MP, Ramón D, et al. Probiotic administration improves sperm quality in asthenozoospermic human donors. Benef Microbes. 2017;8(2):193-206.

Dardmeh F, Alipour H, Gazerani P, van der Horst G, Brandsborg E, Nielsen HI. Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01 (DSM 14870) supplementation affects markers of sperm kinematic parameters in a diet-induced obesity mice model. PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0185964.

Zhou J, Hu S, Ouyang Y, Kong Y, Liu M. Immunometabolism and male reproductive function: linking inflammation, oxidative stress, and declining fertility. Front Immunol. 2025;16:1736492.

Manan MA. The role of probiotics in personalized therapeutics: advances in gut microbe-driven interventions. Microbe. 2025;8:100497.

World Health Organization. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 6th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/343208.Accessed on 15 July 2026

Wang N, Gu H, Gao Y, Li X, Yu G, Lv F, et al. Study on influencing factors of semen quality in fertile men. Front Physiol. 2022;13:813591.

Aitken RJ, Smith TB, Jobling MS, Baker MA, De Iuliis GN. Oxidative stress and male reproductive health. Asian J Androl. 2014;16(1):31-8.

Bozhedomov VA, Lipatova NA, Bozhedomova GE, Rokhlikov IM, Shcherbakova EV, Komarina RA. Using L- and acetyl-L-carnitines in combination with clomiphene citrate and antioxidant complex for treating idiopathic male infertility: a prospective randomized trial. Urologiia. 2017;(3):22-32.

Kızılay F, Altay B. Evaluation of the effects of antioxidant intervention on sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in infertile patients after varicocelectomy: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Impot Res. 2019;31(6):424-31

Bui AD, Sharma R, Henkel R, Agarwal A. Reactive oxygen species impact on sperm DNA and its role in male infertility. Andrologia. 2018;50(8):e13012.

Gamidov SI, Ovchinnikov RI, Popova AY. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of efficiency and safety of complex acetyl-L-carnitine, L-carnitine fumarate, and alpha-lipoic acid (Spermactin® Forte) for intervention of male infertility. Urologiia. 2019;(4):62-8.

Tham CSC, Peh KK, Bhat R, Liong MT. Probiotic properties of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli isolated from local dairy products. Ann Microbiol. 2012;62:1079-87.