Complementary medicine in assisted reproduction

Gynakologische Endokrinologie

Volume 7, Issue 2, May 2009, Pages 57-62

[Komplementärmedizin und assistierte Reproduktion]

Costea, A.^a, 

Münstedt, K.^ab 

 

^a  Zentrum für Frauenheilkunde and Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH
^b  Zentrum für Frauenheilkunde and Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Klinikstraße 32, 35392 Gießen, Germany 

View references (36)

Abstract

Infertility is a very old human problem that has always been addressed using all available strategies. Up to 66% of infertile patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods because modern methods are not necessarily successful. The importance of CAM methods is therefore no doubt underestimated. Useful aspects of CAM include psychological support and dietary counseling. Interesting phytotherapeutic measures such as Cimicifuga and Vitex agnus castus merit closer investigation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) methods (acupuncture, moxibustion, TCM phytotherapy) have not shown convincing results or may not be considered pharmaceutically safe because of toxic heavy metals and undeclared drugs. Due to the prevalence of CAM methods and possible improvements they may lead to in reproductive medicine, further intensive research in this area is required. © 2009 Springer Medizin Verlag.

Author keywords

Acupuncture; Antioxidant; Assisted reproduction; Complementary medicine; TCM

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: alpha tocopherol; arginine; ascorbic acid; astaxanthin; Chinese drug; clomifene; dexamethasone; diazepam; folic acid; garlic oil; heavy metal; menevit; phenytoin; phytoestrogen; placebo; plant extract; retinol; royal jelly; unclassified drug; zinc

EMTREE medical terms: acupuncture; alternative medicine; article; Chinese medicine; Cimicifuga; clinical trial; counseling; diet supplementation; fertilization in vitro; honey; human; hypnosis; infertility; infertility therapy; moxibustion; phytotherapy; tea; Vitex agnus castus

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: alpha tocopherol, 1406-18-4, 1406-70-8, 52225-20-4, 58-95-7, 59-02-9; arginine, 1119-34-2, 15595-35-4, 7004-12-8, 74-79-3; ascorbic acid, 134-03-2, 15421-15-5, 50-81-7; astaxanthin, 472-61-7; clomifene, 911-45-5; dexamethasone, 50-02-2; diazepam, 439-14-5; folic acid, 59-30-3, 6484-89-5; garlic oil, 8000-78-0; phenytoin, 57-41-0, 630-93-3; retinol, 68-26-8, 82445-97-4; royal jelly, 8031-67-2; zinc, 7440-66-6

Drug tradename: menevit.

ISSN: 16102894Source Type: Journal Original language: German

DOI: 10.1007/s10304-008-0298-xDocument Type: Article

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  Münstedt, K.; Zentrum für Frauenheilkunde and Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Klinikstraße 32, 35392 Gießen, Germany; email:karsten.muenstedt@gyn.med.uni-giessen.de
© Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.