Woops. Missed the Soy Phytoestrogens

Interesting study. I missed this one when prepping for IVF. I had also read that the genestein (sp?) in soy reduced fertility in both men and women, so an isolated compound would be indicated.

More Help with Fertility

By Kimberly Beauchamp, ND

Healthnotes Newswire (January 20, 2005)—Infertile women may improve their chances of becoming pregnant by supplementing with soy phytoestrogens when undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), reports a study in Fertility and Sterility (2004;82:1509–13). Phytoestrogens are compounds found in certain plants that have hormone-like activity in the body. Isoflavones derived from soybeans are one kind of phytoestrogen.

The new study investigated the effect of phytoestrogen supplementation on pregnancy rates in 213 women undergoing IVF for infertility. After the retrieval of the eggs, the women were assigned to receive either 50 mg of progesterone plus 1,500 mg of isoflavones derived from soy per day, or 50 mg of progesterone per day plus placebo until either a blood test for pregnancy was negative or an embryonic heartbeat was seen on ultrasound. The women were assessed for rates of embryo implantation, biochemical pregnancy (based on levels of hormones in the blood), clinical pregnancy (based on seeing an embryo with a heartbeat on ultrasound), miscarriage, and ongoing pregnancy and delivery.

The women receiving phytoestrogens had significantly higher rates of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy and delivery than the women receiving placebo. Among the women supplementing with phytoestrogens, 30% gave birth, versus 16% of the women in the placebo group. There were no adverse effects noted by any of the women taking the phytoestrogen supplement.

The results of this study suggest that phytoestrogen supplementation is a promising adjunctive treatment for women undergoing IVF for infertility. Further studies are needed to determine exactly how phytoestrogens exert their effect on the reproductive system.