Traditional Chinese medicine and infertility

Sheng Teng Huang*, Annie Pei Chun Chen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The present review gives an overview of the potential use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility, including an evidence-based evaluation of its efficacy and tolerance. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine could regulate the gonadotropin-releasing hormone to induce ovulation and improve the uterus blood flow and menstrual changes of endometrium. In addition, it also has impacts on patients with infertility resulting from polycystic ovarian syndrome, anxiety, stress and immunological disorders. Although study design with adequate sample size and appropriate control for the use of traditional Chinese medicine is not sufficient, the effective studies have already indicated the necessity to explore the possible mechanisms, that is, effective dose, side effect and toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine, in the treatment of infertility by means of prospective randomized control trial. SUMMARY: The growing popularity of traditional Chinese medicine used alone or in combination with Western medicine highlights the need to examine the pros and cons of both Western and traditional Chinese medicine approaches. Integrating the principle and knowledge from well characterized approaches and quality control of both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medical approaches should become a trend in existing clinical practice and serve as a better methodology for treating infertility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)211-215
Number of pages5
JournalCurrent Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 06 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Infertility
  • Prospective randomized control trial
  • Traditional Chinese medicine
  • Western medicine

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