CoQ10 and Fertility: What You Need for Egg and Sperm Health

Written By Lora Shahine, MD

Thinking about adding supplements to your fertility journey? A quick search online can leave you swimming in advice—or drowning. How do you know what really works and what’s just hype?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a deep dive into one of the most talked-about fertility supplements: CoQ10. This naturally occurring antioxidant has been linked to improvements in egg quality and sperm health—but is it right for you? 

Dr. Shahine breaks down what the research actually says, the potential benefits, and what risks to keep in mind.

In this episode, you’re getting clear, evidence-based insights that can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider—and decide if CoQ10 deserves a spot in your supplement lineup.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • [2:04] What is CoQ10?

  • [3:41] How CoQ10 works

  • [4:45] Possible side effects

  • [5:47] Evidence of CoQ10 for female fertility

  • [14:55] Evidence of CoQ10 for male factor

  • [17:46] What Dr. Shahine tells her own patients about CoQ10


Resources mentioned: 

Review article of nutrients for IVF, Hart et al. 2024 RBMO www.rbmojournal.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1472-6483%2823%2900869-6

Review article CoQ10 info, Rodriguez-Valera 2021 J Molecular Science www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/17/9541

CoQ10 levels decrease in levels with age, Ben-Meir et al. 2015 Fert Stert www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001502821500374X

Animal studies showing improved egg and embryo quality with CoQ10 supplementation journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681

Randomized controlled trial CoQ10 aneuploidy rates in women doing IVF/ICSI, Bentov et al. 2014 Sage 

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681

Review article on antioxidants (including CoQ10) and male fertility, Kaltsas et al. Medicine 2023 

www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/10/1769

Sperm motility improved in men given CoQ10, Balercia, G.2009 Fert Stert www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(08)00487-1/fulltext

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Lora Shahine, MD

Dr. Lora Shahine, reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, completed her residency in OBGYN at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Stanford University. She is dedicated to educating and advocating for increased awareness of infertility, miscarriage, and the impact on environmental toxins on health through an active social media presence, teaching, clinical research, and authoring multiple blogs and books including best selling, ‘Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.’

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