The effects of Chinese herbal medicine on the pregnancy outcomes of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: At present, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has already been widely used as an important adjuvant treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer (IVF-ET). This systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to evaluate the effects of CHM on the pregnancy outcomes of infertile women with PCOS undergoing IVF-ET. Methods: We searched seven electronic databases systematically for published articles to January 2021. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM with blank or placebo for infertile PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET were included. The measures of treatment effect were the pooled odds ratios (OR) of the clinical pregnancy rate, the abortion rate and the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence. Results: This meta-analysis included 10 studies involving 663 patients comparing CHM with blank or placebo for infertile PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET. The pooled data showed that CHM could improve the clinical pregnancy rate (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.73-3.35, p < 0.01) and reduce the OHSS incidence (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18-0.55, p < 0.01) of infertile PCOS patients with IVF-ET treatment. No significant difference in the abortion rate was found between the CHM and control groups (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.23-1.81, p = 0.40). Discussion: CHM can be used as an auxiliary treatment for infertile PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.