The idea that lowering cortisol improves fertility is theoretically appealing: chronic stress and elevated cortisol can disrupt reproductive hormones, impair ovulation, and reduce sperm quality. However, direct evidence that actively reducing cortisol—via supplements like ashwagandha, phosphatidylserine, or specific diets—significantly boosts fertility is weak. Most studies are small, mechanistic, or observational, and cortisol is just one piece of a complex puzzle. Consumer DNA tests claiming to guide cortisol management (e.g., via COMT rs4680) lack clinical validation and often overstate single-gene effects. Current evidence does not support routine cortisol-lowering interventions for fertility. A holistic approach—sleep, exercise, stress reduction—is more evidence-based. Caution: without measured cortisol levels and medical supervision, targeted supplements remain speculative. Evidence grade: unclear.
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