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Tongkat Ali And Male Fertility

The link between Tongkat Ali and male fertility is a popular topic in the health and fitness industry. With modern people living a more sedentary lifestyle and eating more unhealthy, processed foods, male fertility issues are at an all-time high, with current estimates showing that around 7% of men are infertile.

While several procedures and types of medication can help improve male fertility, most also cause a range of unpleasant side effects, leading to many men feeling they are just not worth the risk. As a result, many men are turning to natural supplements as an alternative way to deal with the problem.

The only issue is, many of these supplements do not quite live up to their billing. That is far from true of Tongkat Ali, though, as it appears to be the safe, effective breakthrough infertile men have been seeking.

I can already hear people asking, “If it is so wonderful, why are more men not using it?” The simple answer is most haven’t heard of it. That is why we have produced this article, to help all men learn all they need to know about Tonglkat Ali to ensure infertility is an issue they need never worry about again.

Table of Contents

What Is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is a herbal extract made from the roots of a plant native to Southeast Asia, best known as Eurycoma longifolia. Also sometimes called longjack and Malaysian ginseng, Tongkat Ali has long been used in many forms of traditional medicine in Asia.

The longstanding belief in the region was that Tongkat Ali provided a wide range of health benefits for the human body. For a long time, these claims were based solely on hyperbolic evidence. However, in recent years, scientific studies have proven that many of these benefits are true.

The science showed it could produce health benefits due to the many natural compounds it contained. These include the quassinoid compounds eurycomanone and eurycomanol, canthin-6-one metabolites, eurycolactones, eurypeptides, and eurylene and teurilene, two derivatives of the triterpene squalene (1).

Its benefits include boosting testosterone production and levels, male sexual health and functions, brain and immune system health and functions, exercise performance, muscle growth, and stamina, reducing anxiety, stress, blood pressure, recovery time, and the signs of aging, and combating fatigue and fever.

In today’s article, we will focus solely on Tongkat Ali’s ability to improve male fertility. However, for anyone who wants to find out more about another of the benefits it can offer, we have already written two articles that cover them all in great detail, which can be found here and here.

Tongkat Ali And Male Fertility: How Does Tongkat Ali Improve Fertility In Men?

Boosts Testosterone Production & Levels

Perhaps Tongkat Ali’s best-known benefit is its ability to boost testosterone production and levels, which is essential for male fertility. As the male sex hormone, testosterone benefits male fertility in many ways, including improving sperm production, libido, and general sexual health and functions.

This is primarily due to its very high eurycomanone content, with this compound clinically proven to promote steroidogenic activity. It can increase the production of steroid hormones like testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and luteinizing hormone (LH), the latter of which further encourages the testes to produce more testosterone.

Check out our article on Tongkat Ali and Testosterone

Eurycomanone also produces anti-estrogenic effects, meaning it can reduce or prevent the production of sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and aromatase enzymes that cause testosterone to be converted into oestrogen in the Leydig cells of the testes, lowering your total testosterone levels.

It can even inhibit phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, resulting in an accumulation of cyclic AMP that increases cholesterol transport and pregnenolone production, and stimulates the more effective biosynthesis of testosterone (2).

Improves Sperm Quality

Some human clinical studies have reported that taking Tongkat Ali improves sperm concentration (count per mL), boosts sperm motility (movement), and enhances sperm morphology (shape and structure).

Improving all these parameters simultaneously means your semen will contain far more sperm per load, all of which have a better ability to both reach and then penetrate an egg. A 2010 Malaysian study found that after 12 weeks of Tongkat Ali supplementation, 44% of previously infertile men now had normal sperm parameters (3).

Reduces Stress and Cortisol

Tongkat Ali possesses potent adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol. High cortisol levels can significantly inhibit the production of both testosterone and sperm, notably impairing male fertility.

By reducing stress and lowering cortisol levels with Tongkat Ali supplements, you can indirectly support healthy testosterone production and levels, restore your hormonal balance, reduce oxidative stress in the testes, and support better sperm production, significantly improving fertility in men (4).

Learn more about Tongkat Ali and Stress Here

Produces Antioxidant Effects

Some of the compounds in Tongkat Ali, such as quassinoids and eurycomanone, have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

As antioxidants and anti-inflammatories can help reduce oxidative damage to the sperm and improve DNA integrity, they will help reduce the risk of infertility or even improve the fertility of men who are already infertile (5).

Enhances Libido and Sexual Performance

While not directly linked to sperm quality or production, Tongkat Ali supplementation also increases the male libido and improves erectile function. This will make you more willing and capable of engaging in sexual activity, both of which can contribute to significantly increased chances of conception (6).

Improves Overall Health and Fitness

Beyond its direct sexual uses, Tongkat Ali offers several benefits for a man’s overall health and fitness. Largely produced by increasing your testosterone levels, Tongkat Ali can indirectly enhance muscle mass, energy levels, body composition, and exercise performance as well.

All of these will not only further benefit your testosterone levels on their own, but they will also make your body healthier, leading to better sperm production, and make you more energetic and willing to engage in sexual activity. This will all have a profound effect on a man’s fertility (7).