Oral complementary medicine use and first-cycle in vitro fertilisation - What are the effects on the oocyte, the embryo and the pregnancy rate?

This small study demonstrates a high use of oral CAM in first-cycle IVF patients, with a wide range of types. There appears to be a lower fertilisation rate in the women who used oral CAMs. It is unclear whether this is a negative effect of the CAM or selection bias. This concern about confounders supports the need for further research into unregulated herbal medicine on IVF outcomes, given that so many women are using these substances.