The Effects of Foeniculum vulgare Seed Extract on Fertility Results of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Women With Poor Ovarian Response

Abstract

Objectives: Foeniculum vulgare due to phytoestrogens is important in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction including infertility. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of the F. vulgare seed extract on the fertility results of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in women with a poor ovarian response (POR). Materials and Methods: In this before-after intervention, 19 infertile women with POR were enrolled by a convenience sampling method. T h e amounts of luteinizing hormone ( LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), ovarian ultrasound volume, the number of preantral follicles, and the size of the prominent ovary were measured before treatment with F. vulgare. Then, patients were treated with F. vulgare for two months, followed by initiating the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. The number of embryos transferred in previous and current cycles was investigated after IVF. Finally, the data were analyzed in SPSS 16. Results: There was a significant difference in the serum LH level (P=0.002), LH/FSH (P=0.049), the number of follicles and ovules (P=0.003), endometrial thickness (P=0.04), and ovarian volume (P=0.03) between before and after treatment with F. vulgare. Moreover, a significant difference regarding the decreased number of required days for induction was observed between before and after treatment with F. vulgare (P=0.022). Conclusions: In general, the use of F. vulgare had positive effects on improving t h e quality of oocytes and female fertility indices in women with POR.

Clinical Application of Bioextracts in Supporting the Reproductive System of Animals and Humans: Potential and Limitations

“…The extract has been shown to act as oxytocin, which has been antagonized by atropine [ 102 , 103 ]. Yavangi et al [ 104 ] found that F. vulgare seed extract administered orally was effective in improving the determinants of conception in women and could be used as a complementary therapy. The use of F. vulgare positively improved the quality of oocytes and fertility indices in women.…”