Summary of findings 1. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) versus clomiphene for subfertile women with PCOS.
| CHM versus clomiphene for subfertile women with PCOS | ||||||
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Population: subfertile women with PCOS Setting: fertility clinics Intervention: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Comparison: clomiphene | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | Number of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Clomiphene | CHM | |||||
| Live birth rate | Not reported | |||||
| Pregnancy rate | 215 per 1000 | 279 per 1000 (147 to 467) | OR 1.41 (0.63 to 3.19) | 140 (3 RCTs) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very lowa,b | |
| Adverse effects | Not reported | |||||
| *The basis for the assumed risk is the median control group risk across studies. The corresponding risk (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). Abbreviations: CI: confidence interval; OR: odds ratio | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. | ||||||
aDowngraded one level for serious risk of bias: study methods not described in sufficient detail. bDowngraded two levels for very serious imprecision: small sample size, only 38 events altogether, CIs compatible with no effect or with substantial benefit from the intervention.