| Updated in 3/24/2019 4:37:19 PM |
Viewed: 280 times |
(Journal Article) |
Fertility and sterility 68 (6): 981-6 (1997)
Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
J D Hirata
,
L M Swiersz
,
B Zell
,
R Small
,
B Ettinger
ABSTRACT
To evaluate possible estrogenic effects of dong quai on vaginal cells and on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women.Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a large health maintenance organization (HMO).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.Subjects were randomized to treatment with either dong quai or placebo for 24 weeks.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.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.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.