Aparna Rajendran

Aparna hospital, India

Title: Effect of supplementing standard infertility treatment with Indian traditional Poongar rice on pregnancy outcomes: interim analysis of a prospective study in Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, India

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Biography

Aparna Rajendran completed her M.B.B.S. (2009) and M.S. in Obstetrics and Gynecology (2014) from Stanley Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India. She later pursued a Diploma in Acupuncture (2016, Tamil Nadu) and further enhanced her surgical expertise by earning FMAS and DMAS credentials in 2022 from Gurugram, India. Additionally, she holds a Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine (FCRM) and a Diploma in Cosmetic Gynecology (DCG), 2025, India.

Her area of special interest lies in Spiritual Gynecology, where she explores the integration of yoga, meditation, natural lifestyle, and modern medical science. Her work focuses on promoting holistic well-being and bridging traditional healing philosophies with contemporary gynecological practice.

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility affects 15–20% of couples worldwide and up to 16.8% in India, with profound social and psychological impact. Poongar rice, a traditional Tamil Nadu variety rich in antioxidants, phenolic acids, iron, and zinc, may reduce oxidative stress, regulate blood sugar, and support ovulation. This study evaluates whether supplementing standard infertility treatments with Poongar rice improves pregnancy outcomes in women aged 20–40 years.

Methods: A single-arm prospective study was conducted at a private infertility center in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, recruiting 70 infertile women aged 20–40 years over 18 months. All received standard infertility treatments with ovulation-inducing drugs, alongside daily dietary supplementation of standardized Poongar rice, monitored through food diaries with nutritional counseling. Pregnancy was confirmed by urine card test and ultrasound. The data was entered in MS excel and analysed using Python

Results: Seventy women participated, with a mean age of 27 (4.1) years and a BMI of 20.4 (4.1). Most had experienced more than 3 years of infertility, with prior treatments averaging 2.5 (1.7) years. Around 68.4% had polycystic ovarian disease and 86.7% had thyroid disorders. Regular menstrual cycles were noted in 68.2% of participants. Around 87% of participants consumed the poongar rice daily, and 5.2% consumed it 4-5 times per week and 93.3% found it easy to integrate into their diet with no serious adverse effects were observed. By the end of the study, 40 women (57.1%) had successfully conceived and the mean (SD) time for conception was 6.2 (1.2) months

Conclusion: Poongar rice supplementation improves pregnancy outcomes by reducing oxidative stress and supporting ovulation through its antioxidant and nutrient-rich profile. As a culturally appropriate and affordable intervention, it shows promise for infertility management in resource-limited settings, meriting further research.