Infertility in Ghana: Do Herbs Help? Facts for Couples

By Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH | Naturopathic Physician and Medical Science Communicator | BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research, Agona Duakwa, Central Region, Ghana
Published and last reviewed: 12th November 2026

For many Ghanaian couples, few waits feel longer than the wait for a child. Months turn into years, relatives ask questions, whispers begin, and the woman is too often blamed. Desperate for an answer, many couples turn to herbal “fertility” mixtures, womb cleansers and spiritual remedies. Does any of it work? What actually causes infertility in Ghana? And what can a couple do, starting today, that really improves their chances? This article gives honest, practical answers, and it begins with a fact that changes everything: infertility is not a woman’s problem alone.

Seek urgent medical care if you have severe one-sided lower abdominal pain, especially with a missed period or vaginal bleeding (it could be an ectopic pregnancy), or lower abdominal pain with fever and unusual vaginal discharge (a pelvic infection). Untreated pelvic infections are a leading cause of blocked tubes and lasting infertility. Do not put herbs or home mixtures into the vagina.

Key Takeaways

• About 1 in 8 Ghanaian couples face infertility. Studies in Ghana estimate it at roughly 12% to 16%.
• Men are involved in a large share of cases. In Ghanaian studies, a male factor accounts for around a third to nearly half of couples. Both partners should be tested.
• No herbal remedy has been proven to treat infertility. Some small studies are interesting, but none replaces a proper diagnosis.
• Common treatable causes include blocked tubes from past infections, ovulation problems, fibroids, low sperm count and varicocele.
• See a doctor after 12 months of trying (6 months if the woman is 35 or older, or sooner if there are known problems).
• Herbs can delay diagnosis, harm the liver and kidneys, cause infections and, if taken while trying to conceive, may even affect an early pregnancy.

How Common Is Infertility in Ghana?

• Studies estimate that infertility affects between 11.8% and 15.8% of people in Ghana. At the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, one study estimated 12.3%.
• Some Ghanaian estimates put male infertility (15.8%) higher than female infertility (11.8%).
• Infertility is defined as failure to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse.
• In a study of couples at a Kumasi centre, a male factor alone was found in 42% of couples and a female factor alone in 26%. An older series of 1,000 patients in a Ghanaian district hospital found male factor the most common cause (45%), followed by tubal damage.
• In a study at an infertility clinic in Uganda, about three in four women had already used herbal medicines.

Whatever the numbers, the lesson is clear: a couple, not one person, has infertility, and both need to be checked.

What Causes Infertility?

In women

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, often from pelvic inflammatory disease, past sexually transmitted infections (such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea) that were not treated, unsafe abortion or pelvic surgery. In Ghanaian studies, tubal damage is one of the most frequent female causes.
• Ovulation problems, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid problems and high prolactin.
• Fibroids that distort the womb. See Fibroids: Do Natural Remedies Work?
• Endometriosis and other womb problems.
• Age: Fertility declines gradually from the early 30s and faster after 35.
• Weight, smoking, heavy alcohol, long-term illness and some medicines.

In men

• Low sperm count, poor sperm movement or abnormal sperm.
• Varicocele (swollen veins in the scrotum), which is common and often treatable.
• Infections and blockages.
• Hormone problems.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, heavy alcohol, drug use, obesity and some medicines. Anabolic steroids and some “performance” products can seriously reduce sperm production.

In both

Sometimes no cause is found (unexplained infertility). Even then, treatments can help.

Myths and Facts

Myth	Fact
“It is the woman’s fault.”	Male factors account for a large share of cases. Both must be tested.
“A curse or spiritual attack causes infertility.”	Most infertility has a medical cause that can be investigated and often treated.
“A strong man cannot be infertile.”	Sperm problems do not affect strength or masculinity, and are common.
“A herbal womb cleanser will open the tubes.”	No herb is proven to open blocked tubes. Some preparations cause infection and harm.
“Past abortions or contraception cause infertility.”	Safe contraception does not. Unsafe abortion with infection can damage the tubes.
“Once I conceive, the problem is gone forever.”	Some causes can recur. Ask your doctor about future pregnancies.

Do Herbs Help With Infertility?

Many couples use herbs. In a survey of Greater Accra men with fertility problems, many believed in the effectiveness of herbal products, yet the researchers noted that claims for herbal treatments for male infertility are not supported by strong scientific evidence. Overall, here is what is known:

Remedy or claim	What the evidence shows
“Fertility herbs” and herbal mixtures	No herbal product has been proven to treat infertility. Reviews of herbal and Chinese medicine for male infertility describe the evidence as weak, with a lack of well-designed trials.
Single herbs promoted online (such as ashwagandha, maca, black seed)	A few small studies, mostly of sperm measures, not of births. Quality and safety vary. Ashwagandha, black seed and neem should be avoided in pregnancy and when trying to conceive unless a doctor agrees. See ashwagandha, black seed and neem.
Antioxidant and vitamin supplements	Mixed evidence. Some trials suggest benefit for sperm quality in some men, but reviews describe the evidence as limited and conflicting. Ask a doctor before starting.
Herbal steams, vaginal herbs or “womb cleansers”	No proof of benefit. Can cause infection, irritation and scarring, which can worsen infertility.
Herbal “sexual enhancers” and bitters	Do not treat infertility. Some contain hidden drugs or alcohol, and the FDA warns that none is approved.
Healthy food and lifestyle	Supported. A healthy weight, no smoking and less alcohol improve fertility in both sexes.

The dangers of relying on herbs

• Time lost: Fertility declines with age, and problems like blocked tubes or varicocele need timely treatment.
• Infection and scarring from herbs inserted into the vagina.
• Liver and kidney harm, and unknown contents, especially in unregistered products.
• Hormone disruption and hidden steroids or drugs in some “fertility” products.
• Risk in early pregnancy: You may already be pregnant while taking a herb. Many herbs are unsafe for an unborn baby. See Herbal Medicine in Pregnancy and Labour in Ghana: The Facts.
• Cost, scams and false hope, which add emotional and financial strain.

See our guide to natural medicine and chronic disease in Ghana for how to recognise false cure claims and check products.

When to See a Doctor

• After 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse without pregnancy
• After 6 months if the woman is 35 or older
• Sooner if periods are irregular or absent, there is a history of pelvic infection, STIs, endometriosis, fibroids, previous pelvic surgery or abdominal pain, or if the man has a history of testicular problems, surgery, infections or a low sperm count
• Go together. Both partners should be assessed from the start.

What Tests Are Done?

For the man

• Semen analysis, a simple, inexpensive test that should be one of the first things done, using a sample produced after 2 to 7 days without intercourse and handled as instructed
• Examination, and sometimes hormone tests or scrotal ultrasound

For the woman

• Medical history and examination
• Tests to check ovulation (hormone tests, cycle tracking)
• Pelvic ultrasound
• A test to check whether the tubes are open (hysterosalpingogram)
• Thyroid and other hormone tests

For both

• Screening for infections, including HIV and other STIs
• Blood sugar and blood pressure checks

Treatments That Work

• Treating infections and other conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes.
• Ovulation-inducing medicines such as clomiphene citrate, widely used in Ghana.
• Surgery: Repairing a varicocele in men, removing fibroids or polyps, or treating tubal problems and endometriosis.
• Assisted reproduction: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are available at some centres in Ghana, though cost can be high.
• Counselling and support for the stress and grief that infertility can cause.

Success depends on the cause and the age of the woman. A Ghanaian hospital study found that about one in five couples conceived with medication-based treatment, which shows that help is possible but also that early assessment matters.

What You Can Do Now: Lifestyle That Helps

1. Time intercourse well: Have sex every two to three days throughout the cycle, rather than only on one calculated day.
2. Keep a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight can disturb ovulation and sperm quality. See our evidence-based guide to weight loss.
3. Stop smoking and avoid recreational drugs. Men should avoid anabolic steroids.
4. Limit alcohol. See To Live Longer: 5 Habits and Foods to Avoid for a Healthier Life.
5. Eat well: Vegetables, fruit, beans, fish, whole grains and nuts. Avoid heavily processed foods and sugary drinks. Women trying to conceive should take folic acid (usually 400 micrograms daily, as advised) from before conception, to help prevent birth defects.
6. Control conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. See our diabetes food guide.
7. Protect against infections: Use condoms with new or non-exclusive partners, get tested, and treat infections promptly.
8. Be active, sleep well and manage stress. See Always Tired Even After Sleeping? 8 Possible Causes.
9. Do not use unregistered products, and tell your doctor about any herb you take.

Caring for Your Mind and Relationship

Infertility can bring shame, anger, sadness and strain between partners and families. You are not weak, and you are not to blame. Talk openly with your partner, protect yourselves from pressure and harmful advice, seek counselling if you feel low or hopeless, and lean on people who support you. If low mood is severe, see a health worker. See our article on depression after childbirth for signs of depression and where to get help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can herbs cure infertility?
No herb has been proven to cure infertility. Find the cause through tests and treat it.

Is infertility always the woman’s fault?
No. In many couples the man’s sperm is part or all of the problem.

How long should we try before seeing a doctor?
After 12 months, or 6 months if the woman is 35 or older, and sooner if there are warning signs.

Can a man with low sperm count father a child?
Sometimes, and treatments can help, including surgery for varicocele and assisted reproduction.

Do blocked tubes always mean no pregnancy?
Not always, but blocked tubes make natural conception difficult. Treatment options include surgery or IVF, and the right choice depends on the case.

Can stress cause infertility?
Stress can affect cycles and sexual relationships, but it rarely explains infertility by itself. Look for medical causes too.

Is it safe to use “fertility” supplements?
Only after asking a doctor or pharmacist. Many are unregulated and unproven.

Conclusion

Infertility is common, deeply painful and often treatable, but it is almost never solved by a bottle of herbs or by blaming one partner. Seek help early, together. Get both partners tested, treat infections and medical conditions, adopt healthy habits and use natural support only with your doctor’s knowledge. Hope is real, and it is best built on correct diagnosis, honest information and kindness, not on shame or false cures.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Herbal products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. If you are trying to conceive, consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herb or supplement. See our full Medical Disclaimer.

References and Further Reading

• Pharmacotherapy of infertility in Ghana: retrospective study at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 2019.
• Causes of infertility among 1000 patients in Ghana. PubMed.
• The pattern of male infertility in Kumasi, Ghana.
• Investigating the beliefs towards traditional medicine use and the effectiveness of herbal products for managing male infertility in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
• Prevalence and factors associated with use of herbal medicine among women attending an infertility clinic in Uganda.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (clinical guideline).

About the Author

Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH, is a naturopathic physician, public health researcher and medical science communicator based at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region of Ghana. He writes about health education, naturopathic health care and evidence-informed wellness through BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research. Contact us.