(Article)
a Endowment Department of Mibyou Science and Medicine of Salutogenesis, Health Science Clinic of Osaka Medical College, JR Takatsuki Station NK Building, 1-1-1 Akutagawa-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1123, Japan
b Ichikawa Gynecology Clinic, Osaka 569-0803, Japan
b Ichikawa Gynecology Clinic, Osaka 569-0803, Japan
Abstract
Despite the recent technological advances in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), a significant proportion of women still do not become pregnant after long-term infertility, whether it is originally due to older age or other undetermined factors. In the present study, macrophage activating Chinese herbs (MACH) were evaluated for their effects on embryo qualities in women who were undergoing repeated IVF-ET because of long-term infertility. Thirty women, who had significantly low rates of developing good quality cleaved embryos and did not become pregnant after three or more cycles of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedure, were included in the study. Oral administration of MACH significantly increased the percentage of good qualityearly stage blastocysts (the number of grade 1 or grade 2 cleaved embryos/the number of retrieved oocytes) from 18.7 ± 16.2% to 36.1 ± 27.1% (1.9-fold increase, p < 0.01). The rate of good quality early stage blastocysts increased in all patients. In 19 patients who desired embryo transfer using late stage blastocysts, MACH significantly increased the percentage of late stage blastocysts from the initial value of 14.8 ± 11.2% to 21.1 ± 23.1% (1.4-fold increase, p < 0.05). The rate of embryonic progress into late stage blastocyst increased in 52.6% (10/19) of the patients. Furthermore, treatment with MACH significantly decreased the plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration on the day of oocyte retrieval from 14.4 ± 3.2 to 10.5 ± 2.4 mIU/ml (p < 0.05). No adverse events were observed with MACH supplementation, and there was no patient dropout. Administration of MACH resulted in improved embryo quality in the difficult cases. The present study demonstrates a new benefit of this herbal blend in women with refractory infertility of unknown etiology. © 2012 World Scientific Publishing Company & Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine.
Author keywords
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART); Female Infertility; Herbal Remedy; In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET); Macrophage-Activating Chinese Herb (MACH)
Indexed keywords
EMTREE drug terms: follitropin; interpunch; Lonicera extract; plant extract; plantago extract; pumpkin extract; safflower extract; unclassified drug
EMTREE medical terms: adult; article; blastocyst; Chinese herb; clinical article; drug efficacy; embryo; embryo quality; embryo transfer; female; female infertility; fertilization in vitro; follitropin blood level; human; macrophage activating chinese herb; macrophage activation; oocyte retrieval
MeSH: Adult; Blastocyst; Carthamus; Cucurbita; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Infertility, Female; Lonicera; Macrophages; Middle Aged; Oocytes; Phytotherapy; Plantago; Treatment Outcome
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: follitropin, 9002-68-0;Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, 9002-68-0
Drug tradename: interpunch, Asahi, Japan.
Manufacturers:Drug manufacturer: Asahi, Japan.
ISSN: 0192415X CODEN: AJCMBSource Type: Journal Original language: English
Ushiroyama, T.; Endowment Department of Mibyou Science and Medicine of Salutogenesis, Health Science Clinic of Osaka Medical College, JR Takatsuki Station NK Building, 1-1-1 Akutagawa-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1123, Japan; email:hsc110@art.osaka-med.ac.jp
© Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved. © MEDLINE® is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
© Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved. © MEDLINE® is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
