There is no dearth of advice on social media regarding healthy lifestyle changes that claim to "naturally boost fertility". Although it goes without saying that leading a healthy lifestyle helps in improving the health of reproductive organs, there have been many instances where patients have not been seeking help from professionals because of such misinformation.
According to Dr Richika Sahay Shukla, Co-Founder and Medical Director, India IVF Fertility, healthy habits should complement fertility treatment, not replace it. She says many couples are spending precious time following viral internet advice instead of getting evaluated for underlying medical conditions.
Healthy habits help, but they aren't a cure
Dr Shukla acknowledges that lifestyle plays an important role in fertility.
"A healthy life truly helps. Good sleep, a sensible weight, quitting smoking and alcohol, a daily walk, simple home food — all of this improves egg and sperm quality. I prescribe these changes myself, to almost every patient," she says.
However, she adds an important distinction: "But helping is not the same as curing."
Why green smoothies and viral fertility hacks fall short
According to Dr. Shukla, one of the biggest misconceptions is believing that a particular food, detox or supplement can reverse medical causes of infertility.
"No smoothie can open a blocked fallopian tube. Seeds won't dissolve endometriosis. A detox can't bring back the eggs a woman's ovaries have already lost with age. And no herb I've seen reliably fixes a very low sperm count. These are medical problems. They need a diagnosis first, not guesswork."
She explains that while nutritious food supports the body, conditions such as blocked tubes, endometriosis or severe male-factor infertility require proper medical diagnosis and treatment.
The biggest risk is losing valuable time
According to the fertility expert, the greatest danger isn't spending money on wellness products, it's delaying medical evaluation.
"Here's what the reels never tell you: the real cost of the myth isn't the money spent on powders. It's time. Fertility runs on a clock, especially after 35. Two years of wellness trends can quietly eat up the very years in which treatment works best."
She says this delay can significantly affect treatment outcomes, particularly for women whose fertility naturally declines with age.
Viral advice can also affect mental health
Beyond physical health, Dr. Shukla says these trends often leave couples blaming themselves when they don't conceive.
"When the smoothie fails, couples blame themselves. 'Maybe we didn't do it properly.' I've watched a woman cry in my clinic because she'd eaten a slice of cake at her nephew's birthday. That isn't health. That's fear dressed up as wellness."
She believes fertility should never become a test of perfection or guilt.
Don't choose between a healthy lifestyle and fertility treatment
Instead of seeing lifestyle changes and medical treatment as opposites, Dr Shukla encourages couples to embrace both. "Don't choose between the two; use both. Keep the healthy habits; they make every treatment work better. But if you're under 35 and a year of trying has passed, or over 35, and it's been six months, get tested. A semen test, a hormone test and one ultrasound can tell us in a week what guessing can't tell you in years."
Her message is simple: eat well, exercise regularly and look after your health, but don't let viral wellness trends delay seeking professional advice. When it comes to fertility, timely diagnosis can make all the difference.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
Also read:
What social media gets wrong about IVF: Dangerous fertility myths explained by an expert
