Black Cohosh
Black cohosh from days 1 to 12 improved pregnancy rate by 170%, boosts progesterone
Patients with unexplained infertility and recurrent clomiphene citrate induction failure, were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received clomiphene citrate 150 mg per day (days 3 to 7). Group I received additional oral phytoestrogen (Cimicifuga racemosa - black cohosh) 120 mg/day from days 1 to 12. There was a non-significant shortening of induction cycles in group I. Oestradiol and LH concentrations were higher in group I compared with group II. Endometrial thickness, serum progesterone and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group I (8.9 versus 7.5; 13.3 ng/ml versus 9.3 ng/ml; 36.7% versus 13.6%, respectively). It is concluded that adding Cimicifuga racemosa rhizome dry extract to clomiphene citrate induction can improve the pregnancy rate and cycle outcomes in these couples.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18413068
Black cohosh raises luteal-phase progesterone
This study compared follicular-phase supplementation with either phytoestrogen (in the form of cimicifuga racemosa - black cohosh) or ethinyl estradiol in clomiphene citrate induction cycles for the treatment of unexplained infertility. The phytoestrogen group needed significantly fewer days for adequate follicular maturation, had a thicker endometrium and higher estradiol concentration at the time of human chorionic gonadotrophin injection. The phytoestrogen group had higher luteal-phase serum progesterone compared with the ethinyl estradiol group. No significant difference was found regarding clinical pregnancy rates (14.0% versus 21.1%, respectively). In conclusion, the cycle characteristics in unexplained infertility women treated with clomiphene citrate induction and timed intercourse improved after follicular-phase supplementation with phytoestrogen compared with ethinyl estradiol supplementation.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1472-6483(09)00019-4
Menstrual Cycle and Miscarriage
Black cohosh lowers LH, superior to soy and red clover
Experimental and clinical evidences suggest that soy/red clover and their isoflavones do not fulfill the criteria of an ideal selective estrogen receptor modulator. They appear to have mild osteoprotective effects but do not improve climacteric complaints. Furthermore, they seem to stimulate uterine growth and mammary epithelial proliferation. In ovariectomized rats, the cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) extract showed many of the beneficial effects of 17beta-estradiol, including effects in the brain/hypothalamus to reduce serum LH levels, effects in the bone to prevent osteoporosis and estrogenic effects in the urinary bladder. The cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) extract had no uterotrophic effect. CONCLUSION: If clinical studies confirm these results, the Cimicifuga racemosa preparation would appear as an ideal selective estrogen receptor modulator and may therefore be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Black cohosh lowers LH, insulin and triglycerides, raises LDL cholesterol
Dietary cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) extract had no effects on uterine mass but significantly reduced serum lutenizing hormone (LH) levels. Although, the average weekly food consumption throughout the experiment (calculated in g/kg of BW) did not differ between our studied groups, cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) treated animals gained less weight and had significantly less intra-abdominal fat accumulation compared to control animals. Plasma total cholesterol levels in cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) treated animals did not differ from the controls whereas LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher and plasma triglycerides significantly lower. In the glucose tolerance test, the area under the curve in cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) treated animals did not differ significantly from the controls. Nevertheless, fasting plasma insulin levels were significantly lower in cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: In rats, cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) extract consumption decreases enhanced pituitary LH secretion, attenuates body weight gain and intra-abdominal fat accumulation accumulation, lowers fasting plasma insulin and has no effects on uterine mass. The effects on plasma lipids seem to be more complex and are characterized by an increase of LDL cholesterol and decrease of triglycerides levels which is in contrast to the effects of estrogen.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18691839
Other topics covered under Supplements and Miscarriage:
Aspirin, Black Cohosh, Flaxseed, Inositol, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Omega 3, Progesterone Cream, Vitex