Cumulative medication use (polypharmacy and self-medication)
Overall medication burden
Evidence level : Emerging / debated Medication & treatmentsMechanism : Medication burden
🟠 Some signals exist (animal studies, small human studies) but results are conflicting and the scientific community is still debating them.
- Where it's found
- Simultaneous use of several prescribed treatments, often combined with frequent self-medication (painkillers, supplements, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories).
- Suspected mechanism
- Each medication is evaluated individually; the combined effect of several molecules taken together, on liver/kidney load and possible hormonal interactions, is little studied specifically for fertility.
- Suggested alternative
- Review all treatments taken, prescribed and over-the-counter, with your doctor or pharmacist, especially when planning a pregnancy.
- Source
- General literature on polypharmacy; classified as emerging by logical extension, no dedicated fertility study identified.
Map your everyday exposures in about ten minutes.
Take the questionnaireRelated factors
Including a factor does not mean it causes infertility: it is simply worth monitoring, depending on its level of evidence.
Content last updated: September 14, 2026