Common Infertility Treatments Of 'Little Use'

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They offer a ray of hope for couples trying for a baby, but according to a new research, common infertility treatments do not live up to their promises.

The study from University of Aberdeen has found that two specific interventions for infertile couples may not improve fertility.

For the study, the researchers recruited 580 women who had experienced unexplained infertility for more than two years from four teaching hospitals and a district general hospital in Scotland.

The participants were randomly assigned to three groups, where one group of women were encouraged to try naturally for a pregnancy and had no medical interventions; one took oral clomifene citrate (CC) which is believed to correct subtle ovulatory dysfunction and the other had unstimulated intra-uterine insemination (IUI) of sperm.

About 101 women became pregnant and had a live birth during the course of the study.

The researchers found that women, who had no interventions, had a live birth rate of 17 pct, while those taking oral CC had a birth rate of 14 pct.

The third group having unstimulated IUI had a birth rate of 23 pct.

Moreover, side effects abdominal pain, bloating, hot flushes, nausea and headaches were highest in women taking oral CC, affecting 10pct of women.

"These interventions, which have been in use for many years, are unlikely to be more effective than no treatment," the British Medical Journal quoted the researchers, as saying.

The research team calls for high quality clinical trials to guide policymakers and inform patients about the best treatments and the adverse effects associated with these interventions.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.