A groundbreaking clinical study published in Nature Communications has demonstrated significant fertility benefits for women of advanced maternal age using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The January publication marks the first time the prestigious journal has featured clinical research on TCM applications in reproductive medicine.
The randomized clinical trial, conducted across 12 tertiary hospitals in China, evaluated Zishen Yutai pills developed by Guangzhou Baiyunshanzhongyi Pharmaceutical Co. The research involved 1,467 women aged 35-42 undergoing fresh embryo transfers through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures.
According to the findings, the TCM formulation produced remarkable results: a relative increase of nearly 23% in live birth rates—considered the gold standard for evaluating assisted reproductive outcomes. The study also documented substantial improvements in positive pregnancy test rates, embryo implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates among participants.
The research was co-led by Professor Yang Dongzi from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and Professor Zhang Heping from Yale University, representing a collaborative effort between Chinese and international medical expertise.
Professor Yang emphasized the broader implications: “This TCM medication provides a exemplary model for the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine, offering new hope to older families attempting conception.”
The timing of this breakthrough is particularly significant given demographic trends. National Health Commission data from 2023 reveals that mothers aged 35 and above now constitute over 18.7% of all births in China, with the proportion exceeding 25% in first-tier cities. This shift reflects broader social developments, including changing marriage patterns, evolving childbirth trends, and the implementation of China’s two-child and three-child policies.
Luo Songping, a nationally distinguished TCM practitioner and professor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, noted: “The rigorous clinical research design provides reliable evidence-based medical evidence, further supporting TCM’s application value in assisted reproduction.”
The medication is currently available in mainland China and the Macao market, with researchers planning continued investigation into integrative approaches combining Chinese and Western medical traditions in reproductive medicine.