comparing the effects of nettle extract with combined oral contraceptives on improving clinical and paraclinical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome: a triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is one of the most significant reproductive and endocrine disorders in women. this study aims to assess the impact of nettle extract on both clinical and paraclinical symptoms in women with pcos.methods: this triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial involved 60 women (n = 30 per group) aged 18 to 45, all diagnosed with pcos based on definitive diagnostic criteria in tabriz, iran. participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using block sizes of 4 and 6 into two groups: an intervention group (receiving 500 mg of oral nettle extract containing flavonoids, tannins, and sterols daily for three months) and a control group (receiving combined oral contraceptives [cocs] for three months). independent t-test and ancova test were used in spss version 24 for data analysis. a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.results: the study showed that after the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences between the nettle extract group and the control group regarding mean levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p=0.197), total testosterone (p=0.24), follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) (p=0.549), luteinizing hormone (lh) (p=0.398), hirsutism score (p=0.149), or duration of menstrual bleeding (p=0.982), based on ancova adjusted for baseline values, education level, and number of pregnancies. however, the two groups exhibited statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose levels (p=0.020), intervals between menstrual bleeding (days) (p=0.031), and menstrual bleeding intensity (p = 0.008).conclusion: the findings indicate that nettle extract is as effective as low-dose oral contraceptive pills in reducing levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh), and luteinizing hormone (lh), as well as in decreasing hirsutism scores and the duration of menstrual bleeding. midwives can use nettle extract, which is a cheap, easy, and non-invasive method to improve pco symptoms.