Assessment of Herbal Product Use Among Infertile Women: A Survey-Based Study in Türkiye

Abstract

Aim: The use of herbal products is the most commonly preferred traditional and complementary medicine method. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of herbal product use among infertile women in Türkiye and identify the factors affecting the use of these products. Methods: We created a survey consisting of 31 questions, six of which were open-ended and used to interview 108 infertile women at the infertility clinic of Sakarya University Hospital to assess herbal product use. SPSS v20 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the participants, 69 (63.8%) had previously used herbal products to treat their infertility. They were found to have used 62 different herbal products for their condition. In order, the five most commonly used plants were onions, figs, carobs, yarrows, and walnuts. However; 15.94% of the participants who used herbal products experienced mild to moderate side effects, with the most common side effects being nausea, dizziness, and muscle weakness. In addition, 79.71% of the participants who used herbal products had not consulted their doctor about using these products. Conclusion: At present, alternative treatments have become more common, and people use alternative treatment methods for many health problems, such as infertility. According to the literature, herbal products are one of the most frequently used alternative treatment methods. However, there is insufficient evidence-based research on the positive and negative effects of these products. Hence, more comprehensive studies on the impacts of herbal products are needed. Keywords: herbal, products, infertility, complementary medicine