Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2009.01.004
Homeopathy for the treatment of menstrual irregularities: a case series
Subject Editor:
Publication History
Received04 December 2007
revised01 April 2008
accepted07 January 2009
Publication Date:
15 December 2017 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00034926/200902/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1016-j-homp-2009-01-004-1.jpg)
Objective: A preliminary study to evaluate the usefulness of homeopathic treatment in the care of menstrual irregularities.
Method: Patients were diagnosed at the first appointment according to menstrual cycle over the past year: Amenorrhea (AM), Oligo-amenorrhea (OL-AM), OL, Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). All patients were prescribed an individualised, global homeopathic treatment. The main outcomes were: time to resumption of periods, change of clinical diagnosis at the end of follow-up or after 2 years. The secondary outcomes were: menstrual regularity at the end of follow-up, compared to pre-treatment frequency; flow characteristics; clinical course of acute and chronic concomitant symptoms.
Results: 18 consecutive cases of secondary amenorrhea (SA) and oligomenorrhea (OL) met the entry criteria. 8 women had SA, 2 were on HRT, 6 had OL-AM and 2 had OL. The average duration of considered follow-up was 21 months. The average time before the reappearance of menstruation was 58 days (s.d. 20) in the 8 women with SA at the time of the first appointment, for all cases 46 days (s.d. 42). Change of clinical diagnosis: 50% of women, who were diagnosed AM, recovered their ovulatory cycle (OV), whereas 12.5% remained amenorrheic; 33.3% of patients, who were initially OL-AM, showed an OV; 100% of oligomenorrheic and HRT patients recovered an OV. The average frequency of spontaneous cycles per year changes from 4.32 (s.d. 1.97) pre-treatment to 9.6 cycles per year at the end (s.d. 2.92). Four detailed case histories are reported.
-
References
- 1 Wiksten-Almstromer M., Hirschberg A.L., Hagenfeldt K. Menstrual disorders and associated factors among adolescent girls visiting a youth clinic. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007; 86 (01) 65-72.
- 2 Munster K., Helm P., Schmidt L. Secondary amenorrhoea: prevalence and medical contact–a cross-sectional study from a Danish county. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1992 May; 99 (05) 430-433.
- 3 Joji Matsumoto, Toshio Hata. Re-evaluation of secondary amenorrheic patients one year after initial diagnosis: a prospective study. J Nippon Med Sch 2004; 71 (01) 63-68.
- 4 Reindollar R.H., Novak M., Tho S.P.. et al. Adult-onset amenorrhea: a study of 262 patients. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986 Sep; 155 (03) 531-543.
- 5 Gnoth C., Frank-Herrmann P., Schmoll A.. et al. Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives. Gynecol Endocrinol 2002 Aug; 16 (04) 307-317.
- 6 Master-Hunter T., Heiman D.L. Amenorrhea: evaluation and treatment. Am Fam Physician 2006 Apr 15; 73 (08) 1374-1382.
- 7 Rajangam S., Nanjappa L. Cytogenetic studies in amenorrhea. Saudi Med J. 2007 Feb; 28 (02) 187-192.
- 8 Wong M.S., Lam S.T. Cytogenetic analysis of patients with primary and secondary amenorrhoea in Hong Kong: retrospective study. Hong Kong Med J 2005 Aug; 11 (04) 267-272.
- 9 Berga S.L., Loucks T.L. The diagnosis and treatment of stress-induced anovulation. Minerva Ginecol 2005 Feb; 57 (01) 45-54.
- 10 Linde K., Clausius N., Ramirez G.. et al. Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects?A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet 1997; 350: 834-843.
- 11 Chatterjee S. A case of amenorrhoea and neurofibroma. Indian J Homoeopath Med 1990 Apr–Jun; 25 (02) 121-122.
- 12 Shah H. Why am I still a kid? A case of primary amenorrhoea. Homoeopath Links 2003 Winter; 16 (04) 240-241.
- 13 Rajkumar R., Srivastava S.K., Yadav M.C., Varshney V.P., Va J.P. Effect of a homeopathic complex on oestrus induction and hormonal profile in anoestrus cows. Homeopathy 2006; 95 (03) 131-135.
- 14 Williamson A.V., Mackie W.L., Crawford W.J., Rennie B. A study using Sepia 200c given prophylactically postpartum to prevent anoestrus problems in the dairy cow. Br Homoeopath J 1991 Jul; 80 (03) 149-156.
- 15 Van Hooff M.H., Van der Meer M., Lambalk C.B.. et al. Variation of luteinizing hormone and androgens in oligomenorrhoea and its implications for the study of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 1999 Jul; 14 (07) 1684-1689.
- 16 Cardigno P. Parametri per la valutazione del caso cronico Il medico omeopata. Luglio 2001; 17 (02) 50-55 (Article in Italian)
- 17 Pafumi C., Ciotta L., Farina M.. et al. Evaluation of bone mass in young amenorrheic women with anorexia nervosa. Minerva Ginecol 2002 Dec; 54 (06) 487-491.
- 18 Vestegaard P. Antiresorptive therapy for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis: when should treatment begin?. Treat Endocrinol. 2005; 4 (05) 263-277.
- 19 Van der Schouw Y., Van der Graaf Y., Steyerberg E.W., Eijkemans J.C., Banga J.D. Age at menopause as a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Lancet 1996; 347: 714-718.
- 20 Kalantaridou S.N., Nelson L.M. Premature ovarian failure is not premature menopause. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2000; 900: 393-402.
- 21 Hyland M.E., Lewith G.T. Oscillatory effects in a homeopathic trial. Homeopathy 2002; 91 (03) 145-149.
- 22 Bellavite P.. et al. Immunology and homeopathy. 5. The rationale of the ‘simile’. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007 June; 4 (02) 149-163.