Celery Plus Anise Versus Metformin for Treatment of Oligomenorrhea in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Triple-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial

[Background]Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-induced oligomenorrhea can leave psychological and non-psychological impacts on women. Among the proposed strategies for its treatment, herbal medications are of importance due to favorable effect profiles.[Objectives]We planned a study to compare the effects of Celery and Anise combination (CAC) and metformin (met.) on oligomenorrhea in PCOS patients.[Methods]We conducted a triple-blind, Randomized clinical trial on 72 patients that were randomly allocated into two equal groups to receive six capsules of either CAC (750 mg each) or met. (250 mg each) at three separate doses for 15 days beginning from the follicular phase. If the bleeding occurred, three capsules of either placebo or met. would be administered daily during the menstruation phase, and then the follicular phase step with six capsules would be repeated. If the bleeding did not occur, three capsules of either placebo or met. would be administered each day for 15 days. The regularity of menstrual bleeding as the primary outcome, as well as testosterone, luteinizing hormone/follicular stimulating hormone ratio (LH/FSH), and complications, was assessed before and after the three cycles. [Results]The mean age ± standard deviation of patients was 26.5 ± 6.1. The mean Body Mass Index was 26.4 ± 3.5. CAC significantly improved oligomenorrhea (58.3% vs. 25%, P < 0.01), increased bleeding episodes (P = 0.003), and reduced testosterone (mean difference: 0.16 vs. -0.02, P = 0.005) and LH/FSH (mean difference: 0.75 vs. -0.08, P = 0.002) without any major side effects compared to met.[Conclusions]We showed that Celery and Anise combination could regulate menstrual cycles and improve oligomenorrhea in polycystic ovary syndrome patients superiorly to metformin.