11/01/2026
A study found that women with infertility from endometriosis taking 500 MG/2x daily of bee propolis had a 60% increase in pregnancy rate, significantly higher than the 20% in the placebo group, suggesting it is a promising treatment for endometriosis-induced infertility.
🗂️Proposed Mechanisms of Action:
📑Reduces Inflammation: Propolis contains active components that exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects. It has been shown to downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1B (IL-1B) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), which are elevated in women with endometriosis and contribute to the disease’s progression. By reducing the inflammatory environment, propolis may create a more favorable condition for conception.
📑Increase Apoptotic Activity: Endometriotic tissue is characterized by reduced programmed cell death (apoptosis), allowing the lesions to survive and grow outside the uterus. Studies on rats suggest that propolis extract can suppress the growth of these lesions by increasing apoptotic markers like Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-3, helping to reduce the overall disease burden.
📑Inhibits Angiogenesis: Propolis may inhibit vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), which are involved in the formation of new blood vessels that supply endometriotic lesions with blood and nutrients. Limiting this process helps restrict the growth and spread of these lesions.
📑Maintains Normal Ovulation: Unlike some hormonal therapies for endometriosis (e.g. dienogest), propolis treatment in animal models did not interfere with the normal ovarian cycle or inhibit ovulation, which is crucial for fertility.
The information shared is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice, stop a prescription regimen or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. ❤️