Effect of soothing liver therapy on oocyte quality and growth differentiation factor-9 in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

This trial explored whether dispersing stagnant Liver qi using Chinese herbal medicine can improve the success of IVF treatment. Fifty-eight women with tubal infertility were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group received ‘Xiao Yao Powder’ in addition to ovarian stimulation, which was composed of Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) 15g, Bai Shao (Paeoniaw Alba Radix) 15g, Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis Radix) 15g, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma) 15g, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) 6g, Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma recens) 6g and Bo He (Menthae haplocalycis Herba) 6g (the herbs were made into a decoction and taken as two doses in the morning and evening). The control group received ovarian stimulation only. The authors found that the treatment group required significantly less gonadotropin drugs than the control group, and that the endometrial thickness, quality of embryos and pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group. In addition, the expression of growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9, a key regulatory factor in the development of ovarian follicles) was found to be significantly higher in the treatment group, which the authors suggest is likely to be a key factor involved in the clinical improvements produced by the herbal medicine. [Oct 2013]