Elsevier

Fertility and Sterility

Volume 68, Issue 6, December 1997, Pages 981-986
Fertility and Sterility

Clinical article
Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(97)00397-XGet rights and content
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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate possible estrogenic effects of dong quai on vaginal cells and on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women.

Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a large health maintenance organization (HMO).

Patient(s): Seventy-one postmenopausal women (mean age [±SD], 52.4 ± 6 years) who had follicle-stimulating hormone levels (third-generation assay) of >30 mIU/mL with hot flashes.

Intervention(s): Subjects were randomized to treatment with either dong quai or placebo for 24 weeks.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Endometrial thickness was measured by transvaginal ultrasonography; vaginal cells were evaluated for cellular maturation; menopausal symptoms were evaluated by reviewing the Kupperman index and the diary of vasomotor flushes.

Result(s): We observed no statistically significant differences between groups in endometrial thickness, in vaginal maturation index, in number of vasomotor flushes, or in the Kupperman index.

Conclusion(s): Used alone, dong quai does not produce estrogen-like responses in endometrial thickness or in vaginal maturation and was no more helpful than placebo in relieving menopausal symptoms.

Keywords

Dong quai
alternative therapy
herbal therapy
climacteric

Cited by (0)

Financial support for this project was provided by the Northern California Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Inc., Community Service Program. This work was presented in part at the 45th annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Fertility Society, which was held on April 10–13, 1997 in Indian Wells, California.

1

J.D.H. was awarded the Practicing Physician Award for Research by the Pacific Fertility Society.

§

Ms. Small is a student at Harvard University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.