Reproductive Organs

Nutrients connected to Reproductive Organs

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• PassionflowerDocumented risk

  May cause uterine contractions, so it should not be used in pregnancy.

• MotherwortDocumented risk

  Must not be used in pregnancy per the European summary.

• PennyroyalDocumented risk

  Pennyroyal is contraindicated in pregnancy; deaths and organ failure are reported in women who used it to end a pregnancy.

• RueDocumented risk

  Rue has been taken to end pregnancy; miscarriage is listed as an effect and four deaths occurred in a poison-centre series. A safety caution: avoid in pregnancy.

• TansyDocumented risk

  Consumer reference says tansy can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage.

• Vasaka (Malabar nut)Documented risk

  Vasicine stimulated womb muscle in several animal species and in strips of human womb muscle in lab work.

• Chitrak (Ceylon leadwort)Documented risk

  Traditional abortifacient; animal anti-implantation, abortion-like and sperm-reducing findings.

• Trichosanthes (tian hua fen)Documented risk

  Trichosanthin was injected, sometimes into the cervix, to end pregnancies; the root should not be used in pregnancy.

• Passionflower TeaDocumented risk

  NIH: may induce uterine contractions; avoid in pregnancy.

• FenugreekDocumented risk

  Not safe above food amounts in pregnancy because of links to birth defects.

• Saw palmettoPreliminary or mixed

  Used for prostate-related urinary symptoms. NIH says it is probably not helpful for these symptoms alone.

• St. John's wortDocumented risk

  Possible birth-defect risk in pregnancy (NIH), and reduced effect of the contraceptive pill (NIH, NHS).

• FeverfewDocumented risk

  May affect uterine contractions, so it is not advised in pregnancy.

• PygeumPreliminary or mixed

  The prostate is the target organ for the studied use (BPH urinary symptoms). Evidence is limited.

• TribulusPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for erectile function; improvement was reported in some trials but evidence is low quality.

• Peony (white peony root)Documented risk

  EMA advised avoiding peony root in pregnancy because of possible abortifacient activity; reproductive safety tests were not available.

• MugwortDocumented risk

  Traditional use to bring on labour or miscarriage; animal studies suggest effects on implantation. No human safety data were read.

• WormwoodDocumented risk

  The EU monograph does not recommend wormwood in pregnancy; a rat study found fewer implantation sites and pups, and thujone stimulates the uterus.

• Black hawDocumented risk

  The uterus is the organ it is traditionally used on; one reference says it might affect the uterus and rates it possibly unsafe in pregnancy.

• Blue cohoshDocumented risk

  Traditionally used for the womb and labor; one case report suggests it can end a pregnancy. It may have uterus-stimulating activity, per LactMed.

• Shepherd's pursePreliminary or mixed

  Traditionally used for uterine bleeding; heavy-period use is accepted in the EU on traditional grounds, with limited trial evidence.

• Pleurisy rootDocumented risk

  A consumer reference rates pregnancy use unsafe because the root may stimulate the uterus; PeaceHealth also advises pregnant women to avoid it.

• Cuscuta seed (tu si zi)Preliminary or mixed

  Studied for sperm quality and ovarian function; human evidence is from formulas and is limited.

• Achyranthes (niu xi)Documented risk

  A Hong Kong herb database advises caution in pregnancy and PROSEA reports use to aid delivery and anti-fertility effects of an extract in mice; avoid in pregnancy.

• FenugreekDocumented risk

  Not safe above food amounts in pregnancy because of links to birth defects.

• Juniper berryDocumented risk

  Not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding; one small trial in period pain used capsules, not food.

• False unicorn rootDocumented risk

  Traditionally used for the uterus, but a consumer health reference advises against use in pregnancy because of a possible uterine effect; no trials in people were found.

• PartridgeberryLab or animal research only

  Lab study on isolated mouse uterine horns only; traditional use as a late-pregnancy tonic is unproven.

• Thuja (northern white cedar)Documented risk

  Sources advise avoiding or minimising thuja in pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety is not established.

• Vervain (European)Documented risk

  Traditionally used to bring on labour, so avoided in pregnancy; no controlled safety data were found.

• Scotch broomDocumented risk

  The alkaloid sparteine has a history as a uterus-stimulating drug.

• Pueraria mirifica (kwao krua)Documented risk

  Vaginal tissue improved with gel in trials; bleeding and menstrual disorders were reported with oral supplements, and rats showed uterine and ovarian effects.

• Dried fenugreek leaf (kasuri methi)Documented risk

  Not safe above food amounts in pregnancy because of links to birth defects.

• Juniper Berry OilDocumented risk

  Not recommended in pregnancy; data on reproductive toxicity of the oil are missing.

• Pennyroyal Tea (Dangers)Documented risk

  Contraindicated in pregnancy per MSK.

• Catnip TeaDocumented risk

  Possible uterine stimulation is the reason databases give for avoiding it in pregnancy.

• Motherwort TeaDocumented risk

  Contraindicated in pregnancy per the EU monograph.

• Wormwood Tea (Dangers)Documented risk

  Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Borax (Sodium Borate)Documented risk

  EU reproductive-toxicity classification; human occupational data reassuring; debated.

• ZincDeficiency link

  Male hypogonadism is listed as a sign of zinc deficiency.

• SeleniumEstablished role

  The NHS says selenium helps in reproduction.

• SageDocumented risk

  Possible harm in pregnancy because of thujone (NCCIH); not recommended in pregnancy by the EU committee.

• Bitter MelonDocumented risk

  The rat pregnancy study found malformed litters and resorption sites; applicability to people is unknown.

• ChamomileDocumented risk

  Possible estrogen-like effects may matter for estrogen-sensitive conditions such as breast or uterine cancer.

• MacaPreliminary or mixed

  Human research centres on sexual function and semen quality, with limited and mixed results.

• Asian ginsengPreliminary or mixed

  Some research on erectile dysfunction; low-quality evidence.

• Red raspberry leafLab or animal research only

  Raspberry leaf affects uterine muscle in animal and human tissue studies; the effect in pregnancy is unproven.

• Stinging nettlePreliminary or mixed

  The prostate is the organ studied for nettle root; evidence is limited.

• Pumpkin seedPreliminary or mixed

  Used for symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH); trial results are small or mixed and the oil helped less than prostate medicines.

• ShatavariPreliminary or mixed

  A PCOS trial reported lower follicle counts and a thicker uterine lining; other ovarian measures did not differ from placebo.

• KudzuDocumented risk

  Estrogen-like activity matters for hormone-sensitive cancers of the breast and reproductive organs; MSK advises avoiding kudzu in ER-positive breast cancer.

• AshokaPreliminary or mixed

  Used traditionally for the uterus and menstrual bleeding; human evidence is a single uncontrolled study.

• OshaDocumented risk

  Osha is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because it may induce menstruation; AHPA recommended a not-for-pregnancy label in 1997.

• Fadogia agrestisLab or animal research only

  A rat study reported testicular changes the authors read as adverse; relevance to men is not known.

• Safed musliPreliminary or mixed

  One small placebo-controlled trial reported better semen measures; rat studies report higher sperm count. Evidence is limited.

• Kutaja (kurchi)Documented risk

  Traditional abortifacient reputation for the root; no safety data.

• LodhraLab or animal research only

  Traditionally used for uterine disorders; a rat study reported larger ovaries and more follicle development. No human evidence for lodhra alone.

• Moutan (tree peony root bark, mu dan pi)Documented risk

  Pregnancy is listed as a contraindication; the sources do not explain the mechanism.

• Black seed (nigella)Documented risk

  Mouse pregnancy study: smaller litters, longer pregnancy; no human data.

• Papaya leafDocumented risk

  Male rat studies showed impaired semen parameters and testicular tube degeneration; human relevance unknown.

• EpazoteDocumented risk

  TRAMIL says oral use in pregnancy can cause miscarriage; no controlled data were found.

• Japanese knotweed (hu zhang)Documented risk

  Emodin was linked to reproductive toxicity in lab and animal work. Pregnancy safety data for the root were not found.

• Sophora flavescens (ku shen)Documented risk

  Reduced sperm function in mouse and lab studies; Kushen gel is used vaginally in HPV trials with low-certainty benefit.

• TepezcohuiteDocumented risk

  Fetal toxicity in animals; no human data found.

• Thunder god vineDocumented risk

  Menstrual cycle changes are listed as a side effect; unsafe in pregnancy.

• Calotropis (arka)Lab or animal research only

  Testis damage in rats given the latex or leaf extract; no human data.

• Red Raspberry Leaf TeaLab or animal research only

  Lab studies show effects on uterine muscle tissue; not tested in people drinking the tea.

• Cynomorium (Suo Yang)Lab or animal research only

  Animal studies examined testis and epididymis tissue after chemotherapy-type injury.

• Evening Primrose OilPreliminary or mixed

  Studies looked at the cervix in late pregnancy; results are inconsistent and the oil should be used only with a midwife or doctor.

• Prenatal and Postnatal VitaminsPreliminary or mixed

  Used around pregnancy; the evidence is about birth outcomes, not the organs themselves, and is mixed apart from folic acid.

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