Fertility Decoded

CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10)

Written by Fertility Decoded. Reviewed by D R, MS (OBG), FRM. Review date: 31 August 2026.

The verdict

Smaller trials suggest better egg/embryo numbers (women) and sperm parameters (men); no live-birth-level evidence yet.

An antioxidant involved in mitochondrial energy production; marketed for "egg quality" (women) and sperm quality (men). No dedicated Cochrane review yet.

What the evidence shows

Women, diminished ovarian reserve: several small RCTs/meta-analyses (largest ~1,529 participants across 6 RCTs) show more retrieved oocytes, higher fertilization rate, more high-quality embryos with CoQ10 pretreatment (typically 3 months before stimulation) — but these are egg/embryo-count surrogate outcomes, not confirmed live-birth benefit.
Men: separate systematic reviews report sperm-quality improvements; similar evidence tier.

Evidence tier

Non-Cochrane evidence

🟡 Smaller systematic reviews/meta-analyses or RCTs exist, no Cochrane-grade synthesis. Emerging, not proven.

Frequently asked questions

Does CoQ10 improve egg quality?
Small trials suggest more retrieved eggs and better embryo numbers with ~3 months' pretreatment, but these are surrogate outcomes — no confirmed live-birth benefit yet.
Does CoQ10 help sperm?
Separate reviews report sperm-quality improvements at a similar, limited evidence level.

Sources

Take this further

Sources last reviewed .