Evaluation of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine for the reproductive and pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis: A nationwide population-based study

Abstract

Objective: Patients with endometriosis may seek traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help them conceive. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of TCM on reproductive and pregnancy outcomes in patients with endometriosis.

Materials and methods: The patients with endometriosis taken from the National Health Insurance (NHI) research database between 2000 and 2012 were divided into two cohorts based on the use of TCM treatment. The two cohorts were matched by age and comorbidities and followed up until a new diagnosis of infertility, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) of reproductive and pregnancy outcomes.

Results: A total of 5244 patients with endometriosis were analyzed, including 1748 TCM users and 3496 matched control subjects. The proportion of infertility was higher in TCM users than in non-TCM users (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.60). However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of ectopic pregnancies between TCM users and non-TCM users (adjusted HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.60-1.13). There was no significant difference in the proportion of miscarriages between TCM users and non-TCM users (adjusted HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.95-1.61).

Conclusion: TCM treatment showed insignificant efficacy in decreasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage in patients with endometriosis.

Keywords: Ectopic pregnancy; Endometriosis; Infertility; Miscarriage; Traditional Chinese medicine.