The Molecular Mechanisms of Natural Medicinal Active Ingredients Interfering with Male Fertility

The challenges posed by excessive global population growth remain significant. Hormonal female contraceptive pills, which have been approved for over 60 years, serve as an important means of contraception; however, many women experience adverse effects after taking these pills, including abnormalities in blood clotting, dizziness, headaches, and vomiting. In this context, male contraceptives have emerged as a prominent area of research. Unfortunately, most male contraceptives are still in the experimental or clinical research stages. Therefore, screening for active ingredients that can specifically inhibit sperm function from natural drug active ingredient libraries holds substantial clinical and practical significance. In this manuscript, we review the inhibitory effects of various natural drug active monomers on sperm function and their underlying molecular mechanisms, aiming to provide theoretical insights for the future development of novel male contraceptives.