TITLE:
Effect of Mentha longifolia on FSH Serum Level in Premature Ovarian Failure
AUTHORS:
Roshanak Mokaberinejad, Elham Akhtari, Mojgan Tansaz, Soodabeh Bioos, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Nafiseh Zafarghandi, Ali Ghobadi, Farnaz Sohrabvand, Ali Akhbari
KEYWORDS:
Amenorrhea, FSH, Iranian Traditional Medicine, Mentha longifolia, Premature Ovarian Failure, POF
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.4 No.7,
May
13,
2014
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Premature ovarian failure (POF) includes
cessation of normal ovarian function before age 40, causing amenorrhea,
menopausal symptoms and general health problems. Hormone replacement therapy
(HRT) can be administered in order to prevent menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis
and vascular complications. Due to the contraindications and side effects of
HRT and the increasing demand for alternative therapeutic modalities, we used Mentha
longifolia, which is
known in the Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), as being able to cause
menstrual bleeding in women with early amenorrhea and decreased FSH serum. Methods:
In this pilot study, we report twenty seven amenorrheic women with POF who were
referred to the Iranian traditional medicine clinic in Tehran and treated by Mentha longifolia. All those patients
had high FSH levels and amenorrhea. They were in their fertility age, between
30 to 40 years old. They were asked to take a cup of herbal tea which was
steeped with Mentha longifolia tea three
times a day for 2 weeks in 3 menstural cycles. If the patients developed menstruation,
the FSH serum level was measured immediately; otherwise they had an FSH
measurement one month after the beginning of therapy. Results: Mean age of
patients was 36.44 ± 1.5 years. Mean FSH level before treatment was 79.13 ± 19.17
mIU/ml, and after treatment was 27.83 ± 16.14 mIU/ml. In four patients who did
not have any response, mean range of FSH was 82.37 ± 19.75 mIU/ml before
treatment and afterwards it was 81.97 ± 21.52 mIU/ml. After treatment with
herbal teas, there was a significant decrease in FSH (79.39 ± 19.17 to 27.83 ± 16.14
mIU/ml, p value