One in three British couples may need help with fertility within a decade, with 40% of infertility attibuted to men. The survey of GPs for Norwich Union Healthcare concludes that British men are risking their fertility by drinking, smoking and eating too much.

Both the quality and quantity of male sperm appears to be in decline, with some studies showing sperm counts to have fallen by over one half.

Other factors are thought to include pollution and female hormones in tap water.

Ginkgo biloba may help prevent ovarian cancer, U.S. research has found.

In a study of 1200 women, the data showed that the women who took ginkgo supplements had a 60 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer.

Dr. Bin Ye from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that of the most commonly used herbals supplements, ginkgo was the one that had a proven beneficial effect.

Six out of ten British family doctors say that vitamin supplements should be available on prescription only. The survey for insurer Norwich Union found that the majority of doctors believe that self-medicating patients are popping pills as a substitute for a balanced diet and lifestyle. The GPs also report misuse, with many patients unaware of the dangers of combining supplements with prescribed medicines.