Claim: A Facebook user claimed that a mixture of waterleaf and milk can fix men’s low sperm count problem.
Verdict: False. No scientific evidence shows that waterleaf cures low sperm count. Available research is limited to animal studies, and no human clinical trial has established that waterleaf improves sperm count or male fertility.
Full Text
The topic of fertility is usually women-dominated as compared to men, but scientific research has shown clearly that it could also be the problem of the man, or both parties, rather than just the woman.
For men, one of the most prominent issues is low sperm count, which describes when there is less than is typical in the fluid called semen that the penis releases during orgasm. Research notes that having a low sperm count can make it less likely for the sperm to join a woman’s egg to start a pregnancy.
A Facebook user @Chief Priest claimed that a mixture of waterleaf and milk can fix low sperm count.
The claim (archived here) was shared by a man in a video holding a bunch of waterleaf in one hand and a tin of evaporated milk in the other. He explained how to combine and consume the two to treat low sperm count.
He said, “If you are a man whose water does not have the capacity to impregnate a woman, I have come with a remedy for you here in my hand. What you need is waterleaf. It has physical and spiritual benefits.”
We noticed a phone contact is displayed on screen throughout the video.
The video’s caption read, “Use waterleaf for low sperm count.”
DUBAWA reviewed the comments to gauge users’ reactions.
@Obasi Uzo Scholastica asked, “How is it prepared?”
@Nnamchi Chidiogo also inquired, “How is it used, please?”
@Kingg Velli, who appeared to understand the preparation already, wrote, “How to prepare? You blend the water leaves and add the milk to it.”
None of the visible respondents questioned the claim, showing they took the remedy’s effectiveness at face value.
We found the same claim shared here, here, here, here, and here.
Because this is a public health issue and users’ interest in the remedy, DUBAWA investigated the claim.
Verification
What is waterleaf?
Waterleaf is the common name for Talinum triangulare, a succulent, fast-growing leafy vegetable in the Portulacaceae (purslane) family. It is widely eaten across Nigeria, Ghana, and other parts of West Africa, where it is known as gbure in Yoruba and gbolodi in Igbo. It is valued mainly as a nutritious vegetable rich in iron, vitamin C, and dietary fibre.
Does waterleaf cure low sperm count?
While researching where this claim has been shared and reshared, DUBAWA found that questions about curing low sperm count are common online. See samples here, here, here, and here. We also found Nairaland threads and health blogs offering herbal “cures” and drawing views from men searching for a fix.
DUBAWA searched scientific databases and journals for evidence that waterleaf treats or cures low sperm count in men.
A 2011 study by Oyeyemi and Fayomi at the University of Ibadan administered graded doses of waterleaf extract to male Wistar rats and monitored their reproductive parameters. A later 2023 academic review that cited this work found that short-term, lower-dose use was associated with a mild improvement in sperm motility and viability in rats. The study revealed, however, that the same extract, used over a longer period, produced a reversible antifertility effect instead.
A separate 2025 study on Rabbit bucks fed Talinum fruticosum, a close botanical relative of waterleaf, found the leaf meal raised testosterone but also increased the percentage of abnormal sperm cells compared with untreated rabbits.
None of the studies DUBAWA reviewed tested waterleaf on animals or people who had low sperm count to begin with, and none reported a cure. The claim in the video goes beyond anything currently in the scientific record.
What medical professionals say
DUBAWA spoke with Abdullahi Shafiu, a fertility specialist at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu, who expressed concern about the spread of claims that present certain foods or herbs as solutions to fertility problems.
“Whatever healthy or nutritional value it has, I would not tell a patient that waterleaf can cure low sperm count because there is no clinical backing for that. Diet is important when a specific health issue has been identified. A patient may need to stop certain unhealthy dietary habits and adopt healthier ones, but that does not mean the food they are advised to eat is the cure for their condition,” Abdullahi explained.
Abdullahi urged men who encounter claims like the one about waterleaf to seek proper medical evaluation rather than rely on testimonials or remedies promoted on social media.
“Nature has provided certain herbs that we use to make some of the drugs prescribed in hospitals, and they have recognised functions. Still, a matter as important as low sperm count or any other fertility issue should be brought to the medical space for proper checks. This can help prevent delays in treatment that may make the condition more severe than it should be,” he buttressed.
DUBAWA also spoke with Bashir Yunusa, a urologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital ( AKTH), Kano. Bashir stressed the importance of proper medical evaluation before turning to remedies promoted on social media.
He explained that low sperm count does not have a single cause, and people who have such issues should be able to identify this before proceeding with any treatment.
“If a man has a low sperm count, the first thing is to know why the sperm count is low. You cannot just assume that taking a particular leaf will correct it without finding out the cause,” he said.
Bashir proceeded to say that men who encounter claims about waterleaf or other herbal remedies for fertility should approach them with caution and seek medical advice rather than relying solely on information shared online.
“Even if a doctor or any medical specialist is not the first option for families or individuals having a fertility-related issue, or the low sperm count itself, I suggest that they also try to do thorough research from solid sources to see if they will find anything tangible about it. If you don’t find strong evidence that matches the suggestions you see in random social media posts, that’s a first step toward gaining knowledge. The next thing to do is then to find the nearest health care systems around you to further assess you,” he added.
We found that no human clinical trial has tested waterleaf’s effect on sperm count, sperm quality, or male fertility. Every study that exists comes from animal research, mainly in rats and rabbits, and animal results do not automatically apply to humans.
Conclusion
The claim that waterleaf cures low sperm count is not supported by scientific evidence. No human research exists, and the limited animal research available suggests that prolonged use may work against fertility rather than for it.
Experts also advise that men experiencing symptoms of low sperm count or fertility concerns should consult a licensed medical doctor or fertility specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. The claim is therefore false.