Product labels probably won't warn you
　　
　　If you take herbal remedies, you should know that some products can interfere with fertility. Herbs such as echinacea, gingko biloba and St. John's wort reduce the chances of fertilization and inhibit sperm production. Fertility problems have also been reported in people taking ginseng, kava kava and black cohosh.
　　Fertility specialists say that patients seeking help for infertility should be sure to tell their doctor if they are taking any herbal products. Doctors don't know how most herbal products affect fertility because most herbal remedies "don't go through the same safety and purity testing as do drugs,'' says Dr. Phillip Galle, a Springfield, Ill., fertility specialist. A Reuters news story appearing in The Times of India describes the problem.

Prescription drugs can also cause fertility problems, but because they're regulated patients can easily read about any known side effects ever reported. At least in the United States, makers of herbal supplements face no blanket requirements to disclose side effects or interactions with prescription drugs.

In the United Kingdom, some infertile couples have turned to Chinese herbal medicine as a way to treat their problem, the Electronic Telegraph explains.

It's important to point out that the feature paints an unrealistically rosy image of herbal therapy. It quotes one practitioner who says "with Chinese medicine there are no side effects." In fact, any treatment capable of altering body function also has the potential to cause side effects. Chinese herbs are no exception. For example, one herb called ma huang or ephedra has been associated with dozens of deaths in the United States alone. So, consumers should be careful about any treatment.

(From HealthScout)