The effect of palm pollen and letrozole + tamoxifen regimen in the treatment of infertile women: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Female infertility is a condition in which despite efforts over a year, they are unable to conceive. The present study was performed aimed to compare the effect of palm pollen herbal regimen (relying on the beneficial properties of date pollen for infertility treatment) with letrozole + tamoxifen drug regimen in the treatment of infertile women.

This double-blind clinical trial study was performed in 2019 on 128 infertile women living in Jahrom city. Subjects were divided into two groups: letrozole + tamoxifen drug regimen and palm pollen herbal regimen. The control group received the letrozole + tamoxifen infertility treatment regimen and the experimental group received a plant-based palm pollen diet in the form of 500 mg capsules 3 times daily from the third day of menstruation. The results were collected based on ultrasound and blood tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 and descriptive and inferential statistical tests at the significant level of P <0.05.

The number of follicles, follicle size, endometrial thickness, FSH and LH significantly increased in both control and test groups. But these increases were greater in the control group. However, the results of HCG - test showed that 14 cases (21.87%) in the control group and 10 cases (15.62%) in the experimental group were positive. While HCG - ß with twins was seen in only 4 cases (6.25%) in the experimental group; there were no cases of twins in the control group (P=0.15). There was no significant relationship between pregnancy status between the control and test groups (P> 0.05).

The consumption of palm pollen increases the number and size of follicles and endometrial thickness, although the increase in these factors was less than the group receiving letrozole + tamoxifen, but there was no difference between the two groups in success rate of clinical pregnancy, indicating that this drug combination has the capacity to conduct more extensive research for drug development.