INFERLTILITY TREATMENT USING HERBAL DRUGS: A REVIEW

Ankaj Kaundal*, Reetika Rana and Mamta Devi

ABSTRACT

Infertility is defined as failure of a couple to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse without use of contraception in women less than 35 years of age; and after 6 months of regular intercourse without use of contraception in women 35 years and older. There are several causes of male and female infertility i.e. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, genetic factors, impotence etc. There are several therapeutic approaches for the treatment of male and female infertility problem including Allopathy, Ayurveda, Unani etc. Drugs derived from natural resources have always been considered safe and also promote the health because they provide various nutritional supplements in addition to the active ingredients which are required for the treatment of disorder. Among the methods used to treat male and female infertility problems, medicinal plants have been used as extracts, decoctions, fractions or semi-purified compounds. For example, extracts of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Lepidium meyenii have shown positive effects on sexual desire, while extracts of Asparagus racemous, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata etc. improved sperm parameters, Saraca indica for ovoulation disoreder, Leptadania reticulata for Premature ovarian failure. Plants provide a treatment option that is affordable and available for infertile couples and phytotherapy is an essential form of treatment in our health system. The present review provides an overview of the prevalence, causes, treatment of male and female infertility using herbal medicines.

Keywords: Infertility, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Herbal drugs for infertility.