Fatemeh Ghavi - Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Fars, Iran
Fatemeh Shakeri - Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Fars, Iran
Somayeh Abdolahian - Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Objective: There are few evaluation about the effects of Fennel and Ferula on human polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The goals of this study were to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two medicinal plants of the Apiaceae family (Fennel and Ferula) in management of PCOS.Materials and Methods: The sample size was ۴۷ participants with PCOS who were randomly divided into ۳ groups. The Ferula assa-foetida L group received ۱۰۰ mg of Ferula (n=۱۴), the Foeniculum vulgare group received ۴۶ mg of Fennel (n=۱۵), and the placebo group received placebo twice daily for ۳ months (n=۱۴).Results: Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of clinical parameters, endometrial thickness, or ovarian volume. After the interventions, the number of ovarian follicles was decreased in the Ferula and Fennel groups as compared to the placebo group (p<۰.۰۵). The number of ovarian follicles in both ovaries in the Ferula and Fennel group decreased and this decrease was significant in the right side as compared to placebo group. Our findings showed significant changes in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DEHAS) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels after the intervention (p<۰.۰۳) between the Ferula and Placebo groups.Conclusion: Since use of Ferula could make significant changes in TSH and DEHAS levels and decrease the number of right and left ovarian follicles compared to Fennel and placebo, it can be concluded that this herbal medicine is more effective than Fennel in managing PCOS.

Ferula, Ferula assa-foetida L, Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS