Effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic medicine in treatment of uterine fibroid: A case series

Abstract

Uterine fibroid also known as uterine leiomyoma or fibromyoma is a benign growth of the smooth muscles of uterus. These tumors are very common in females of reproductive age-group and are mainly a result of imbalance in female hormones, especially the oestrogen-progesterone disturbance. With the increasing sedentary habits, stressful lifestyle and altered dietary intake the incidence of uterine fibroids is ever-increasing. The incidence of uterine fibroids is also seen to occur with non-communicable diseases and endocrinological disturbances like hypothyroidism, polycystic-ovarian disease etc. The main concern associated with fibroids are symptoms like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, genito-urinary and rectal discomfort. The conventional treatment involves conservative medicines, gonadotrophic-releasing-hormone (GnRH) antagonists and finally surgical procedures like myomectomy and hysterectomy. Mostly such treatment leaves a stressful impact on the patient especially when the uterus is removed from the body. The alternative treatment with Individualized Homoeopathic medicines is emerging as a gentle and milder management for uterine fibroids providing a non-surgical approach towards uterine fibroids. In this paper two cases of patients who suffered from uterine fibroid are presented who were benefitted from Individualized Homoeopathic treatment. The cases are presented according to guidelines of CARE Checklist criteria for presentation of case-reports.Methodology and Conclusion: Both the cases were treated with Individualized Homoeopathic treatment given for the complaint of uterine fibroid which was clinically assessed through ultrasonographic (U.S.G.) reports before and after the treatment. Along-with U.S.G. the patients were also assessed for changes in their quality of life before and after treatment for the fibroid through Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life Questionnaire which assessed the improvement in 7 domains (Symptom severity, Concern, Activities, Energy/Mood, Control, Self-consciousness, and Sexual Function). The medicine prescribed in first case was Pulsatilla nigricans and the case was followed-up for one year after which the U.S.G. report was normal. The UFSQOL score before treatment was 145 which reduced to 46 after treatment. In second case medicine prescribed was Natrum carbonicum and was followed-up for one year as well after which the patient’s U.S.G. report was normal. The UFSQOL score in case 2 was 114 before treatment and after treatment it was reduced to 43. The causal attribution of Homoeopathic treatment effect was assessed with Modified Noranjo Criteria (MONARCH) which was 10 and 9 for first and second case respectively.