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.
