One Month of Date Palm Consumption Boosts Fertility in Infertile Couples - Study

INFERTILITY and the management of infertility affect different dimensions of a couple's life. Sexual dysfunctions can occur in both partners and can cause problems at every stage of sexual response. Infertility negatively affects the sexuality of infertile couples.

Many studies show that infertile women have lower sexual function than fertile women. Sexual satisfaction is strongly affected by the consequences of infertility such as low self-esteem, feelings of depression and anxiety, and failed sex.

Now researchers in a study suggest that date palm is an arsenal to fight infertility in couples. They found that a month-long consumption of date palm had a positive impact on the sexual function of infertile couples.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted on infertile women and their husbands who were referred to infertility clinics in Iran in 2019, researchers found sexual function in women (arousal, orgasm, lubrication, pain during intercourse, satisfaction) in the intervention group was significantly increased compared to women in the control group who did not have date palm.

The intervention group received a date palm capsule and the control group received a placebo. Starch powder was applied to prepare the placebo capsules.

Furthermore, all domains of male sexual function (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and overall satisfaction) increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group.

>

The study to investigate the effect of date palms on the sexual function of infertile couples was featured in the 2022 edition of the BMC Research Notes.

Infertility is not only a medical problem, but also affects all personal dimensions and the social life of most infertile people. Infertile couples are more prone to psychological problems (anxiety, depression and stress), which can lead to marital distress, social dysfunction (stigma, social exclusion and feelings of failure) and reduced quality of life.

Infertility and the management of infertility affect different dimensions of a couple's life. Sexual dysfunctions can occur in both partners and can cause problems at every stage of sexual response. Infertility negatively affects the sexuality of infertile couples.

Many studies show that infertile women have lower sexual function than fertile women. Sexual satisfaction is strongly affected by the consequences of infertility such as low self-esteem, feelings of depression and anxiety, and failed sex.

The date palm is known to have originated in what is now Iraq. In Nigeria, dry, soft dates are sold for consumption. However, in the northern part, they are added to locally brewed alcoholic beverage to help reduce intoxicating power.

Dates are a good source of energy and important vitamins and elements such as phosphorus, iron, potassium and a significant amount of calcium. It is also rich in phenolic compounds with anti-radical and antioxidant activity.

Since ancient times, the date palm has been used in Greece, China and Egypt to treat infertility and increase sexual desire and fertility in women. There are few studies on the effect of date palms on male and female sexual function in humans.

Furthermore, studies have shown that the various parts of its plant are widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders which include memory impairment, fever, inflammation, paralysis, loss of consciousness and nervous disorders.

Researchers have suggested that the improvement in male and female sexual function may be due to the active ingredients and increased levels of sex hormones following the consumption of date palms since studies have indicated that the increase in sex hormones is effective in sexual function.

However, they recommended more studies of longer duration on the use of date palms on sex hormone levels in infertile couples.

Previously, a study found that using date palms in postmenopausal women for 1 month had a positive and significant impact on sexual desire and arousal. Another suggested that the use of date palms had a positive impact on orgasm, satisfaction and lubrication in women and also reduced pain during sex in women.

In the laboratory, by administering date palms to male rats and measuring their sexual behavior, the researchers showed that the parameters of sexual behavior (number of ejaculations, number of sexual intercourse) increased compared to the control group.