Disclaimer: We do not recommend the use of Manuka honey as a replacement for seeking professional medical help. Always consult medical professionals in an emergency.

Did you know that infertility affects around one in six adults worldwide¹? And it doesn’t discriminate.

Countries of high-, medium-, and low-income show similar rates of infertility, and yet the solutions for prevention and treatment are widely underfunded and often inaccessible¹.

With Manuka honey’s enduring reputation for health and wellness, it’s no wonder that people are asking whether it’s any good for fertility issues.

In this blog, we’ll be exploring why you might want to try Manuka honey for fertility, both for men and women, and how to use Manuka honey to support fertility issues.

Plus, which Manuka honey is best for reproductive health and other fertility-boosting foods to pair with it.

Can You Use Manuka Honey for Fertility?

“Historically, honey is traditionally used in many cultures to enhance fertility in women and men. The adaptation of traditional practices remains relevant amongst complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.”

- Protective roles of honey in reproductive health, 2021 study².

Modern studies have highlighted the potential benefits of using Manuka honey for fertility issues, but using honey for fertility dates at least as far back as Ancient Egypt³.

Did you know that the word “honeymoon” is believed to come from the tradition of a newlywed couple consuming honeymead to boost fertility after getting married?

Fertility issues are prevalent throughout the world and are caused by a huge range of factors like age, lifestyle, weight, genetics, other conditions, and so much more⁴.

The benefits of Manuka honey are just as wide-ranging and versatile, thanks to its antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

It has shown to help with general health and wellness support like boosting immunity and maintaining energy. Or it may help in the managing the symptoms of specific ailments and conditions like wound healing, reflux, sinus infections, allergies, viruses, asthma, arthritis, and even cancer.

So using honey for health is nothing new, but something is - the scientific evidence to back it up.

(Well, not “new” exactly. It’s been going on for a few decades now⁵).

Let’s take a look at what we know so far about using Manuka honey for fertility.

Honey for artificial fertility treatment

We bet you didn’t expect this benefit of honey when it comes to fertility.

It turns out that the protective environment that honey creates when it comes to healing wounds, regenerating tissue, and keeping out bacteria can actually protect sperm when it’s outside of the body.

And this has real application in the world of in-vitro fertilisation:

“Honey’s unique composition, as well as its dehydrating and preserving properties, qualify it to be used as a natural cryoprotectant. It is now proved as a non-toxic and highly efficient natural cryoprotectant in fertility preservation because its increasing viscosity at low temperature can provide a protective barrier to cells by reducing ice formation.

Furthermore, its antioxidant property plays a vital role in protecting the cells from thermal damage by reducing the reactive oxygen species.”

- The natural cryoprotectant: Honey for fertility cryopreservation, 2022 study²¹.

Whilst this isn’t something you can benefit from at home, it does demonstrate the huge versatility of honey in health and medicine more widely.

But are all types of honey (and Manuka honey, more specifically) good for fertility?

Maybe not. Let’s see why.

Which Manuka Honey to Use for Fertility

There’s no shortage of honey or fertility supplements for sale today.

And whilst many of these will offer some benefits, when it comes to Manuka honey for health and wellness, there’s an easy winner.

As one of the most faked and diluted foods in the world, it can be difficult to know whether your Manuka honey is the real deal.

Manuka honey has been shown to offer significant benefits and particularly potent antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These can help to protect fertility and reproductive health, so it’s worth checking that what’s in your shopping basket is genuine.

The best way to ensure that your product is 100% authentic, fresh, and trustworthy is by choosing UMF™ graded Manuka honey.

This standard of Manuka honey has been independently tested against four chemical markers. These markers check that it is monofloral (only made using mānuka nectar), raw, and fresh.

This honey testing system is the most rigorous in the world and protects the integrity of premium Manuka honey and the beekeepers who work hard to produce it sustainably and responsibly.

Our New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka honeys are UMF™ graded and fully traceable, so you can track exactly where in New Zealand your honey has come from.

Learn more about our accreditations here.

How to Use Honey for Fertility

Here are some creative ways to use Manuka honey for reproductive health and boosting fertility.

Make your own Manuka honey aphrodisiac

If you want to use Manuka honey to help you get in the mood, why not try making your own honey aphrodisiac?

Chocolate and chilli are also aphrodisiac foods. Why not add some chilli to our Manuka honey dark chocolate recipe or kumara chocolate brownies?

The perfect Manuka honey dish for conception

The best foods to eat when trying to conceive are generally oily fish, nuts and seeds, citrus fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses²².

Try steaming some salmon or sardines, served on a bed of walnut and lentil salad with a healthy drizzle of Manuka honey on top.

This packs in the omega-3 fatty acids, folates, protein, and antioxidants that are important for conception and general overall health²².

Ideal Manuka honey dishes for pregnancy

Eating fruit and vegetables is always important, but particularly during pregnancy. They provide key nutrients and fibre, which helps with digestion and preventing constipation²³.

Protein is also important, particularly lean meat like chicken - or beans and pulses if you’re on a plant-based diet.

Here are some Manuka honey recipes that can offer these benefits for pregnant women:

• Tangy Chicken Teriyaki Honey Recipe with Manuka
• Manuka Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
• Manuka Honey Summer Salad Dressing
• Baked Honey Carrots: A Delicious Manuka Honey Side Dish

Manuka honey tonics for soon-to-be parents

If you have been successful in your fertility journey, you might be feeling a little anxious about your exciting new chapter.

Manuka honey has shown promise in reducing anxiety and stress¹⁰, so taking a moment each day for you and your honey could help you manage the jitters.

Why not try one of our soothing Manuka honey drink recipes:

• Adding Manuka Honey to Your Morning Cuppa
• Green Tea Manuka Honey Recipe
• Super Easy Manuka Honey Smoothie Recipes
• Natural Immunity Boosting Drink with Manuka Honey 

For over 170 ideas of ways to use Manuka honey, check out this blog.

Get Your Premium Fertility Honey from New Zealand Honey Co.

When you’re trying to conceive, you’re extra conscious about what goes into your body. After all, creating a human is no easy feat.

Make sure that you get the purest, most authentic product with the best chance of results by opting for UMF™ Certified Manuka honey from New Zealand Honey Co.

Not only is it independently tested for purity and freshness, but it’s non-GMO, glyphosate-free, Halal and Kosher, and sustainably packaged.

Here’s why our customers love New Zealand Honey Co.

“My favourite brand of Manuka. I have tried a few different brands of Manuka honey, but this one has the best flavor. I always eat a heaping spoonful when I have a sore throat or cough, and it really helps to ease the pain. It has been great during my pregnancy when I can't have other cold medication. I use it on wounds as well.”

- Shelbie S., verified buyer | UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+

“Best honey on the market. I will continue to order it every month. I have seen much improvement in my overall health!”

- Dushitsa K., verified buyer | UMF™ 24+ | MGO 1122+

Shop the range.

Unsure which grade is right for you?

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Suggested further reading:

• The Seductive Truth About Manuka Honey for Sexual Benefits
• Is Manuka Honey the Best Libido Booster for Men? 
• Manuka Honey for Pregnancy and Recovery
• Is Manuka Honey Worth It? It Depends. Here’s Why…

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Sources:

¹ 1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility, World Health Organization.

² Protective roles of honey in reproductive health: A review, National Library of Medicine.

³ Role of honey in modern medicine, National Library of Medicine.

⁴ Infertility, NHS.

⁵ The story of NZ Manuka honey, New Zealand Honey Co.

⁶ Female fertility: Why lifestyle choices count, Mayo Clinic.

⁷ Oxidative stress, Cleveland Clinic.

⁸ Multidimensional comparative analysis of bioactive phenolic compounds of honeys of various origin, National Library of Medicine.

⁹ The antioxidant potential of commercial Manuka honey from New Zealand—Biochemical and cellular studies, MDPI.

¹⁰ Honey on brain health: A promising brain booster, Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience.

¹¹ The potential of honey as a prebiotic food to re-engineer the gut microbiome toward a healthy state, National Library of Medicine.

¹² Manuka honey: Pre-workout superfood, New Zealand Honey Co.

¹³ Augmentation of the female reproductive system using honey: A mini systematic review, MDPI.

¹⁴ Manuka honey and menopause, New Zealand Honey Co.

¹⁵ Treating (recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with medical-grade honey—concepts and practical considerations, MDPI.

¹⁶ Manuka honey for pregnancy and recovery, New Zealand Honey Co.

¹⁷ Mechanisms of honey on testosterone levels, Science Direct.

¹⁸ Manuka honey and testosterone, New Zealand Honey Co.

¹⁹ The sexual benefits of Manuka honey, New Zealand Honey Co.

²⁰ Honey improves sperm parameters in high cholesterol diet-fed male rabbits, ASM Science Journal.

²¹ The natural cryoprotectant honey for fertility cryopreservation, National Library of Medicine.

²² 6 foods that boost fertility, UCLA Health.

²³ Have a healthy diet in pregnancy, NHS.

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