Nutrients and infertility: an alternative perspective.

BACKGROUND: Different gonadotrophin preparations or different protocols of ovulation induction are powerless to determine a significantly increase in oocyte quality in the majority of aged patients or in patients with repeated failed in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. INFORMATION SOURCES: Papers published on journal focused on nutraceutical and human reproduction. EVIDENCES: It is questionable if various molecules that are positively associated with higher oocyte competence, higher fertilization rate and embryo development could be supplemented to infertile patients with the aim to partly reduce the frequency of unsuccessful IVF. PERSPECTIVES: Aim of this short review is mainly to focus the attention on potentially positive effects in female fertility of few, well established substances, that could be suggested as a dietary supplement.