EFFECT OF AYURVEDIC TREATMENT ON DIMINISHING OVARIAN RESERVE – A PROJECT REPORT
Infertility is defined as the inability of a sexually active non contracepting couple to achieve pregnancy in a year. Infertility is alarmingly increasing world-wide. WHO estimates the incidence of primary infertility in India to be 3.9-16.8%. One of the leading causes of female infertility is Diminishing Ovarian Reserve (DOR). Nowadays 10-30% of female infertility is due to DOR. It is a complex phenomenon in which ovary loses its normal reproductive potential compromising fertility in which there is reduction in the number of oocytes. DOR subjects are often at a risk for poor success outcome of conception even with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) In Ayurveda the most appropriate correlation of DOR can be done with DathukshayaVandya explained in Haritha samhita. It is due to depletion of Dhatus or due to inadequate formation of Dhatus, especially Arthava and Sukradhathu leading to Anapathyatha (infertility). Objectives and Methods: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Āyurvedic treatment protocol on Diminishing Ovarian Reserve. The study was a single group interventional study with a sample size of 60 patients. Females who were diagnosed with DOR in the age group of 20-35 years attending the OPD of Govt. Ayurveda college hospital for Women and children, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram were selected for study. Their data was collected using case proforma and investigations including AMH, AFC (Antral follicular count) was done on the 2nd and 3rd day of menstrual cycle before and after treatment. Result & Conclusion The Āyurvedic treatment protocol was found to be effective in managing diminishing ovarian reserve by effectively increasing the AMH and AFC values. It is also observed that 26% of subjects achieved pregnancy naturally even though most of the subjects were advised to do IVF with donor egg. Keywords: DOR, Dhathukshaya vandhya, AMH, AFC, sukumāra ghritam