Unkei-to for correcting luteal phase defects

To assess the clinical efficacy of Unkei-to in women with luteal phase defects.

A study of 103 consecutive subjects with luteal phase defects treated with unkei-to (7.5 g/d) and 94 control subjects was conducted. A venous blood sample was taken, and plasma gonadotropins, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone levels were measured. Dominant follicle size and endometrial thickness were assessed in the late follicular phase.

Unkei-to significantly decreased plasma luteinizing hormone and significantly increased 17 beta-estradiol concentration in the follicular phase and significantly increased progesterone (66.7%) in the midluteal phase (P < .05). Significant development of the dominant follicle (P < .01) and endometrium (P < .001) was also observed in patients treated with unkei-to. We observed significant prolongation of the luteal phase (43%, P < .001) as measured by basal body temperature. There was a 79.6% rate of correction of luteal phase defects in patients treated with unkei-to. Furthermore, the pregnancy rate in patients desiring pregnancy was 49.5% (41/83).

Administration of unkei-to may normalize the gonadotropin-ovarian endocrine system and/or their interaction in the follicular phase and may improve the endocrine environment in the luteal phase in patients with luteal phase defects.