Management of Couple Infertility with Aloes Compound* In Females, and Fortege* In Males in a Rural Area

Introduction

A family with a large number of children is an economic problem facing the over-populated underdeveloped countries while the absence of a child in the family is a social problem as the parents feel distressed for not having a child, irrespective of their social status, whether rich, middle-class or poor.

In the urban population facilities for investigations with sophisticated methods are fairly available. The vast majority of Indian population (80%) is rural.

While only 20% of those living in towns and cities enjoy better medical facilities favorably comparable to Western standards, 80% forming the rural population do not have access to these facilities. A medical practitioner practicing in the rural area has to manage things to the best of his abilities.

Review of Literature on Aloes Compound

Balsara, Jhaveri, Mukherjee and Agrawal have reported successful results with Aloes Compound in Sterility associated with menstrual disorders. Gupta, Rajasekharan, Sivaraman, Shah, Sangamnerkar, Panda and Khosla reported good results with Aloes Compound in the management of Primary and Secondary Sterility and the Conception Rates given in all these studies were good.

These studies encouraged the author to select Aloes Compound for the present study.

Review of Literature on Fortege in Male Infertility

Gupta, Shelat, Bhalerao, Jagadisan and Pande tried Fortege in cases of oligospermia and cases of uncomplicated Male Infertility and reported good Conception Rates in their spouses.

The author wishes to say that he and his wife were a case of Couple Infertility and formed a part of this study.

Aloes Compound (Alarsin)

Each tablet of Aloes Compound contains in mg:

Aloes was investigated by Satyavali et al. It was found to improve menstrual functions and conception rate was 85% among infertile women.

Aloes corrects menstrual disorders and regulates the flow and rhythm of monthly periods; causes timely ovulatory cycles. It has no disadvantages of hormonal drugs.

Fortege (Alarsin)

Each tablet of Fortege contains in mg:

Fortege tones up neuro-glandular, neuro-muscular, genito-urinary and gastro-intestinal systems. Relieves fatigue. Improves sex performance, keeps one fresh, alert, active and vigorous.

Materials & Methods

This study was done during 1980-84 at my own village and purely in rural conditions. This is a study of 40 cases of Infertility treated with Aloes Compound in females and Fortege in males.

Female infertility was diagnosed by menstrual history and clinical examination. Eleven among them had already taken hormonal treatment without success. One woman had Mantra Chikitsa without benefit.

The rest of the women had tried many herbs as home remedies for their infertility which gave no results.

In all cases of Female Infertility, the male was also investigated without exception. The only test done and the criterion for Male Infertility was the semen analysis.

From these, three classifications were made: Female Infertility; Male Infertility and Couple Infertility where both the partners were infertile.

Dysmenorrhoea, hypermenorrhoea and scanty menses were the common causes for Female Infertility.

One case had gonococcal infection and was treated with antibiotics before treatment for infertility. It was couple infertility (Primary) and so the male partner was also similarly treated for gonococcal infection.

One male patient had syphilis. His wife was also examined and both were treated with antibiotics for the same, before treatment for infertility (Secondary) was started.

Semen analysis was done before starting Fortege treatment and later once a month, and the last one being after four months of treatment.

Female Infertility was treated with Aloes Compound and Male Infertility was treated with Fortege. Females were treated till conception and males were treated for four months.

In Female Infertility only the woman was treated and the husband was not given any treatment. In Male Infertility, only the man was treated and no drug was given to his wife. In Couple Infertility, both the husband and wife were treated accordingly.

Treatment was stopped immediately as pregnancy was suspected. The maximum period of observation was 10 months.

All the deliveries were done under our care except one.

Age Groups: Females

Majority of cases, 31 (77.5%) females were in the Age Groups of 20-30 years.

TABLE I — Age Groups: Females. N = 40

Age Groups: Males

Majority of cases, 33 males were in the Age Groups of 21-35 years.

TABLE II — Age Groups: Males. N = 40

Duration of Married Life

Majority of couples, 32 (80%) had married life of 6-15 years.

TABLE III — Duration of Married Life. N = 40

Female, Male & Couple Infertility

There were 8 cases (20%) of Female Infertility, 10 cases (25%) of Male Infertility and 22 cases (55%) of Couple Infertility where both the partners had to be treated for infertility.

TABLE IV — Female, Male & Couple Infertility. N = 40

Primary or Secondary Sterility

There were 16 cases (40%) of Primary Sterility and 24 cases (60%) of Secondary Sterility.

Semen Analysis

The husband did not come for examination and only wife came with the complaint of infertility. The author insisted on the semen analysis of all the husbands without exception.

Only 8 men had sperm count of over 60 mlns./ml. In about one third of the patients, namely 15 (37.5%), sperm count was less than 20 mlns./ml. Sperm Motility in the majority of cases was less than 40%.

TABLE VI — Sperm Count Before Starting Treatment. N = 40

Treatment in Female Infertility with Aloes Compound

In Female Infertility, Aloes Compound 2 tabs, three times a day was continuously given till pregnancy was suspected when the drug was immediately discontinued.

The maximum period was 9 months. As a precaution against any abortion or miscarriage Leptaden (Alarsin) was given throughout pregnancy in a dose of 1 or 2 tabs two, or three times a day.

If no conception took place within 9 months of treatment, the case was deemed a failure.

Treatment in Male Infertility With Fortege

In Male Infertility, Fortege 2 tabs, three times a day was given continuously for four months.

Semen analysis was done once a month. If semen picture did not improve within 4 months of Fortege treatment the case was deemed a failure.

In a few cases where non-specific urinary tract infection was suspected, Bangshil (Alarsin), 1 tab, three times a day was also given with Fortege.

Results of Treatment

Conception Rate

Out of 40 women 38 women (95%) conceived and only 2 women (5%) did not conceive.

TABLE VII — Results of Aloes Compound Treatment in Females & Fortege in Males. N = 40

Duration of Treatment For Conception

In 10 women (26.3%) conception took place within 4 months; 21 women (55.3%) conceived between 5th and 7th months and 7 women (18.4%) conceived between 8th and 10th months of observation.

The maximum period of treatment was 9 months, and the observation period for conception was one month more.

TABLE VIII — Conceived in So Many Months With Aloes Compound in Females and Fortege in Males. N = 38

Conception Rates in Female Infertility, Male Infertility & Couple Infertility

Among 8 cases of Female Infertility, 7 cases (87.5%) conceived and only 1 woman (12.5%) did not conceive.

Among 10 cases of male infertility, all the wives conceived (100%).

Among 22 cases of Couple Infertility 21 women (95.5%) conceived and only 1 woman (4.5%) did not conceive.

On the whole 38 women (95%) conceived and only two women (5%) did not conceive.

Out of these 2 women who did not conceive, one was a case of Female Infertility and other was the case of Couple Infertility.

TABLE IX — Conception Rates of Female Infertility, Male Infertility & Couple Infertility. N = 40

Discussion

Out of 38 conceptions, 3 were delivered by caesarean, 5 were delivered by help of Forceps and 30 were normal deliveries.

Out of these normal deliveries, there were 3 still-births.

The weights of children born ranged from 1.500 kg to 2.500 kg and the mean baby weight was 2.100 kg.

Conclusion and Summary

In the management of Female Infertility, Male infertility and Couple Infertility in purely Rural Area and Rural conditions, Aloes Compound in Females and Fortege in Males, are found to be of immense benefit where sophisticated investigations are unavailable.

Female Infertility was diagnosed clinically and Male infertility was diagnosed only by one test, that is Semen Analysis.

Overall conception rate was 95% that is 38 cases of infertility, primary or secondary, conceived out of the total 40 cases.

No toxic or side effects were observed in the use of these drugs in parents or in their offspring.

Acknowledgement

I am thankful to Mr. P.G. Shukla of Alarsin Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Bombay 400 023.

References