Celebrity4 min(s) read
Published 09:05 28 May 2026 GMT
An expert has shut down Kourtney Kardashian’s viral claim about drinking husband Travis Barker's sperm while trying to conceive.
The reality TV star previously opened up about this during an episode of the family’s reality series while discussing her fertility journey with her 50-year-old husband before the couple welcomed son Rocky in 2023.
At the time, the 47-year-old explained that she and the Blink-182 drummer had been working with an Ayurvedic practitioner and taking part in a Panchakarma cleanse, an alternative therapy that can involve enemas, steam baths, and induced vomiting.
According to Metro, Kourtney said: "[Said practitioner] told me that the thing that would help it was drinking [Travis’s sperm] like four times a week." Barker responded at the time: "I love this doctor."
Medical professionals weighed in after the comment surfaced online, pushing back hard against the suggestion that drinking semen could improve fertility chances.
Dr James Hopkisson, Medical Director at TFP Fertility Group, told the publication: "In the last 30 years of working in fertility and gynecology, I have read no mainstream research that has advocated the drinking of sperm to be useful in helping with pregnancy."
Experts say the reason is simple: the reproductive and digestive systems are separate. This means swallowing semen has no impact on conception.
While Ayurvedic medicine focuses on wider wellbeing through nutrition, self-care, and mental health practices, reports found no evidence supporting semen-drinking as a fertility treatment.
Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a New York-based, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, and infertility specialist, also said: "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," per Business Insider.
Sekhon believes the theory may derive from confusion surrounding the immune system.
Sperm contain antigens that can trigger immune responses, and some theories suggest that immune reactions to sperm cells could play a role in pregnancy loss.
However, Sekhon emphasized that there is little research on the topic and no guarantee that introducing sperm to gut bacteria would affect fertility outcomes.
In addition to this, both Sekhon and Dr. Anu Kathiresan, a Los Angeles-based board-certified fertility specialist, stressed that no studies show that drinking semen increases the likelihood of pregnancy.
"It's so completely off base and just not based on any sort of science or true medical recommendation," Sekhon added.
Medics have warned that celebrity fertility claims can have unintended consequences for people already struggling to conceive.
Sekhon said that while drinking semen is generally harmless, there are still possible risks, including allergic reactions or the transmission of disease.
Dr Hopkisson added that there are far more evidence-based ways for couples to improve fertility chances before trying for a baby.
"The use of supplements prior to conceiving are important," he said. "All women should be on Folic acid and Vitamin D to minimise the risks of spina bifida and rickets.
"With regard to male factors, lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, losing weight, and cutting alcohol and coffee are worthwhile," he added.
Despite the controversy surrounding the advice, Kardashian and Barker eventually welcomed their son Rocky in 2023.
The couple has since shared pictures of their family life, including recent photos on Instagram showing the toddler enjoying dinner outings and beach trips.
Kardashian, who also shares Mason Disick, 16, Penelope Disick, 13, and Reign Disick, 11, with ex Scott Disick, previously described becoming a parent again after everything she and her husband went through trying to conceive.
"It's everything I've ever dreamed of," she said during a June 2024 episode of The Kardashians, cited by E! News. "Everything we've been through to get to this moment, it just feels so surreal."
Barker, who is also dad to Atiana De La Hoya, 26, Landon Barker, 22, and Alabama Barker, 20, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, has also been vocal about embracing fatherhood again.
"I loved it when I did it the first time, and I love it now," he told Entertainment Tonight in February 2025. "He’s the coolest little boy. He sleeps all night - 10-hour blocks of sleep at night - and he’s up all day playing drums and guitar. I couldn’t be happier."
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