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Claim: A Facebook post claims that women who soak and consume fenugreek seeds three to four times a week will have better and healthier egg quality, permanently balanced hormones, and increased libido.
Verdict: False. There is no credible scientific evidence that soaked fenugreek seeds improve egg quality, permanently balance hormones, or increase libido as claimed. While fenugreek has recognised nutritional value and has been studied for specific health uses, no existing research supports these broad claims.
Full Text
Women’s health is a subject that affects millions of lives, yet opinions, personal experiences, and conflicting advice often surround it. As conversations continue to grow online, so does the spread of health claims, making it increasingly important to separate evidence from speculation. This is reflected in the number of women’s health claims DUBAWA has verified over the years.
A Facebook user, @Erinma Food Challenge, claimed that women who soak fenugreek seeds and consume them (archived here) will have better, healthier egg quality, permanently balanced hormones, and a high libido.
The caption attached to the post read, “See What Happens To Women That Eat Soaked Fenugreek Seeds 3-4 Times A Week: You experience high libido if you are the type that doesn’t enjoy the other room at all; you will have better and healthier egg quality, and your hormones will permanently remain balanced. After 24 hours of soaking, you can bring it out of the water or change the water until it finishes.”
As of July 7, 2026, the post garnered 1,600 likes, 603 comments, and 165 shares.
DUBAWA went through the comments to see what other users thought.
One user, @Mercy Agbo, curious for more details, asked, “I have already blended my fenugreek into powdered form before coming across this post. Will it still be effective if I take it as tea? Hot water or cold water? How many minutes before drinking? Should it be taken on an empty stomach or after eating?”
@Mere Ngozi responded, “I have fenugreek and pumpkin seeds, but I don’t know how to prepare and use them. Please explain well so that I can use it.”
@Doyin Otor inquired, “I want to know more about the benefits of fenugreek seeds; can you share more?”
The same claim was also found here and here.
Given the numerous responses from women expressing interest in the proposed remedy and the claim’s sensitive nature, DUBAWA decided to verify it.
Verification
What are fenugreek seeds?
Fenugreek seeds are the small, golden-brown seeds of the fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum), an annual herb in the legume family. Native to the Mediterranean region, western Asia, and parts of Europe, the plant is now cultivated in many parts of the world. The seeds are widely used as a culinary spice, particularly in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines, and have also been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
According to the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), fenugreek seeds have traditionally been used for purposes such as increasing breast milk supply and relief from digestive complaints. The Encyclopaedia Britannica similarly notes that the seeds have long held culinary and medicinal value and have aided digestion along with supported milk production in lactating women.
With this background in mind, DUBAWA looked into the claim that soaked fenugreek seeds can improve egg quality, permanently balance hormones, and increase libido in women, to determine whether science backs it.
Is it scientifically proven?
DUBAWA reviewed available scientific studies but found no credible evidence that soaked fenugreek seeds improve egg quality in women. Fenugreek has been studied for a range of health uses, but DUBAWA found no human clinical studies that show it improves egg quality or ovarian reserve.
The findings also showed no credible evidence that soaked fenugreek seeds increase libido in women in the way the Facebook post describes.
The claim that soaked fenugreek seeds permanently balance hormones requires closer examination, as some scientific studies have explored the herb’s effects on specific hormonal markers. DUBAWA found that while a small number of studies reported changes in hormones such as estradiol and free testosterone after participants took a standardised fenugreek extract, these findings came from short-term clinical trials using concentrated supplements rather than soaked fenugreek seeds.
DUBAWA also found studies involving women with specific medical conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), where fenugreek was investigated alongside conventional treatment. Although some improvements in hormonal or metabolic markers were reported, the findings were limited to particular patient groups and do not demonstrate that fenugreek permanently balances hormones in healthy women.
Overall, DUBAWA found that the available evidence does not support the broad health benefits attributed to soaked fenugreek seeds in the viral post. Where research exists, it is limited, context-specific, and often involves preparations that differ from the remedy being promoted.
Experts speak
Aisha Muhammed, a Consultant Endocrinologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, told DUBAWA that in her years of practice, she has never come across any seed capable of permanently balancing a woman’s hormones. She explained that managing hormonal imbalance usually requires a combination of interventions tailored to the individual’s condition.
“For women I have personally managed with hormonal imbalance, treatment has never depended on a single remedy. It usually begins with lifestyle modifications, including healthy eating, regular exercise, prescribed medications where necessary, and routine follow-up to monitor progress. If there were a seed capable of producing such a significant and lasting effect on hormones, it would already be recognised and incorporated into standard medical practice,” she said.
Speaking further on the claims that soaked fenugreek seeds improve egg quality and increase libido, Muhammed said there is currently no medical proof supporting those claims.
“Libido is not an illness or a medical condition in itself. It refers to a person’s natural sexual desire, which varies from one individual to another. While low libido can sometimes be linked to hormonal changes, it may also result from stress, certain medications, underlying health conditions, relationship challenges, or psychological factors. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all remedy, and there is no proof that consuming fenugreek seeds will increase libido in the way the viral post claims,” she buttressed.
She added that the same applies to egg quality, noting that it is influenced by several factors, particularly a woman’s age and overall reproductive health.
Jeremiah Jonathan, a Clinical Dietitian, told DUBAWA that fenugreek is a nutritious seed that has long been used both as a spice and in traditional medicine. According to him, the seeds contain dietary fibre and several nutrients that have prompted researchers to investigate the potential health benefits over the years.
“Fenugreek is a good dietary supplement in the sense that it contributes nutrients and bioactive compounds that may support overall health. Like many foods, it has nutritional value and can form part of a healthy diet. That should not be confused with proven medical effects. The fact that a food contains beneficial nutrients does not mean it can treat hormonal imbalance, improve egg quality, or produce such outcomes,” he noted.
Jonathan added that much of the available research on fenugreek has focused on standardised extracts used under controlled conditions, not soaked seeds prepared at home. He explained that because the preparation, dosage, and concentration differ, findings from any study cannot be directly applied to the remedy promoted in the Facebook post.
Conclusion
DUBAWA found no evidence that soaking and consuming fenugreek seeds improves women’s reproductive and hormonal health. Experts also explained that these aspects of women’s health are influenced by multiple factors and cannot be addressed by a single food or remedy. The claim is therefore false.
