The Benefits of Using Complementary Medicine on Infertility: A Review Article

Background: Infertility affects roughly ۱۵% of couples. Varioustherapeutic factors are used to help these patients, none ofwhich are definitive. Research has shown that lifestyle changes,Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are effectivein the fertility rate. Reasons for using CAM vary and may includefaith, beliefs, economic factors or simply fear of a surgicalprocedure and apprehension about using hormone-modifyingmedications. This study reviews the role of complementarymedicine in improving infertility.Materials and Methods: In order to investigate some of thenutrient superstars on infertility which have been studied todate, keywords including Infertility and complementary medicinewas searched in the following databases: ISI, Pub Med,Science direct, Google Scholar , Scopus , Science direct , Iranmedex and Magiran from ۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۱۷ in which ۲۵ papers wereevaluated.Results: Novel studies give a different view of infertility provingthat nutrient levels, diet and lifestyle choices can be hugefactors in infertility. Follicular nutrients may be able to help improvethe frequency and timing of ovulation, determine zygotequality and promote the ideal hormonal secretions for optimumfertility. The results of studies indicate that low levels of variousnutrients often correlates with lower in vitro fertilisation (IVF)success rates, So that Melatonin has been demonstrated in multiplestudies to improve zygote quality and almost double IVFsuccess rates when taken for ۱-۳ months at a dose of ۳ mg atnight prior to IVF. Alpha-Lipolic Acid is another nutrient whichhas been demonstrated to be helpful to women with Polycysticovary syndrome (PCOS) when taken as a twice daily controlledrelease ۶۰۰ mg tablet. Iron has been shown to reduce the incidenceof ovulatory infertility by ۵۰% and is a very commondeficiency. Vitamin D has been shown to have a powerful effecton increasing the odds of IVF success and has been shown tobe important for a healthy pregnancy too. Vitamin C - in smalldoses of ۷۵۰ mg daily has been shown to correct luteal-phasedefectwhich is marked by low progesterone in the second halfof the menstrual cycle. This treatment boosted progesterone andestrogen levels and resulted in a ۲۵% pregnancy rate within sixmonths in a study published in Fertility and Sterility. Fish oil isa powerful anti-inflammatory which may to help curb conditionssuch as endometriosis and has been demonstrated to increaseuterine blood flow. Other vitamins that affect on fertilityand should be consumed daily include vitamin E ۴۰۰-۸۰۰ units,Zn ۱۵-۶۰ mg, selenium ۱۰۰-۲۰۰ micrograms.Conclusion: Vitamins and minerals are powerful regulatorsof fertility and numerous studies have pinpointed specific nutrientswhich may help women to up the odds of conception.Complementary medicine with fertility enhancement can beused as alternatives or complementary to chemical drugs inwhich they affect fertility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Infertility ، Complementary Medicine ، In Vitro Fertilization