- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preconception articles
- preconception q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Herbs for Infertility
Do You Know Your Options?
By Rebecca Valentine
Historical records indicate that herbal treatment of infertility dates back to 200 A.D. in China. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely recognized and practiced in other parts of the world, yet conventional medicine practitioners in the United States are reluctant to endorse its use. Why?
The predominant feeling seems to be that these physicians prefer to practice evidence-based medicine, and there is no hard data on herbals and fertility. That's it in a nutshell: the attitude that medicine is solely scientifically based, and the effectiveness of herbs has not been scientifically proven. Moreover, the clinical studies that are conducted test more for effect than for safety.
One such study conducted in 1999 at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California showed that high doses of St. John's wort, echinacea and ginkgo biloba may damage reproductive cells and even cause genetic mutations in sperm. The results, published in Fertility and Sterility, the journal of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, indicate that further evaluation is needed before a statement can be made about the herbs.
Other experts claim the study was seriously flawed and that the results don't lead to any scientific conclusions whatsoever. The researchers didn't know the concentrations of the herbs in the supplements, and a few of those supplements didn't contain any of the herbal extract advertised on the label. What's more, the test was conducted only once, so no one knows if the results would have been the same in a repeat test.
"What you have is a study that has more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese," says Varro Tyler, a professor at Purdue University who studies the pharmacology of herbs.
The bottom line: Many conventional medical doctors believe there is too much gray area in using herbs to treat infertility. Many don't even tell patients about herbs.
On the other hand, many couples swear by the use of herbs. Kelly Sletten, age 26, believes herbs can work where conventional medicines fail. After being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Sletten was put on a program using Clomid and dexamethasone. After one and a half years of nothing but side effects, she and husband David decided to try the natural approach.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||