Kourtney Kardashian’s sperm-drinking fertility claim debunked by expert
Topics: Kourtney Kardashian, Pregnancy, Health, The Kardashians
Ben Williams
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/kourtneykardash
Topics: Kourtney Kardashian, Pregnancy, Health, The Kardashians
Kourtney Kardashian’s past claim that she was advised to drink Travis Barker’s semen while trying to conceive has resurfaced as the couple’s fertility journey continues to draw attention online.
The Kardashians star, 47, previously spoke about the unusual recommendation during an episode of the family’s reality TV show, while discussing the measures she and Barker had been trying before welcoming their son Rocky in 2023.
At the time, Kourtney revealed she and the Blink-182 drummer had been working with an Ayurvedic practitioner and undergoing a Panchakarma cleanse, an alternative therapy involving procedures such as enemas, steam baths, and induced vomiting.
According to Metro, She said: ‘[Said practitioner] told me that the thing that would help it was drinking [Travis’s sperm] like four times a week.’
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Barker replied: ‘I love this doctor’.
However, the claim has since been rejected by fertility experts, who say there is no evidence drinking semen can improve someone’s chances of getting pregnant.
Dr James Hopkisson, Medical Director at TFP Fertility Group, told Metro: ‘In the last 30 years of working in fertility and gynaecology, I have read no mainstream research that has advocated the drinking of sperm to be useful in helping with pregnancy.’
The reason is essentially a straightforward one. Both the reproductive system and digestive system are entirely separate from one another, meaning swallowing semen has no bearing on conception.
While Ayurvedic approaches can focus on the body more widely, including nutrition, mental health, and self-care, reports show that there did not appear to be any literature supporting semen-drinking as a fertility practice.
Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a New York-based, board-certified obstetrician and gynaecologist and infertility specialist, also addressed the claim, saying there was ‘no medical reason’ for the recommendation.
Reported by Business Insider, Sekhon said, regarding Kardashian's statement: “I think it's a ridiculous thing for her to be putting out there…And I think it doesn't make any sense, especially recommending a frequency of four times per week is absolutely ridiculous and not based on anything.”
Sekhon suggested the idea may have stemmed from confusion around the immune system.
Sperm contains antigens, which are substances the immune system can react to, and some theories have suggested a stronger immune response against sperm cells could be linked to pregnancy loss.
However, Sekhon said very little research has been done on the topic, and there is no evidence that introducing sperm to gut bacteria would have any impact on fertility.
Both Sekhon and Dr. Anu Kathiresan, a Los Angeles-based board-certified fertility specialist, said no studies have shown that drinking semen leads to a greater chance of pregnancy.
Sekhon said: “It's so completely off base and just not based on any sort of science or true medical recommendation.”
Dr Hopkisson added that there are other lifestyle measures that can be more useful when preparing to conceive, saying: “The use of supplements prior to conceiving are important.”
“All women should be on Folic acid and Vitamin D to minimise the risks of spina bifida and rickets.”
He added: “With regard to male factors, lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, losing weight, and cutting alcohol and coffee are worthwhile.”
Sekhon also warned that fertility misinformation can be harmful for people already struggling to conceive, adding that while drinking semen is usually harmless, it can sometimes pass on disease or cause an allergic reaction.