The use of home remedies and complementary health approaches in endometriosis.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
30612955
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION
Conventional treatments are often associated with adverse effects and endometriosis pain symptoms may reoccur despite treatment. Consequently, many women use complementary health approaches (CHA) and home remedies (HR) to relieve their pain. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and the subjectively perceived efficacy of CHA/HR use by women affected by endometriosis.
DESIGN
Retrospective evaluation using medical charts and a questionnaire. Women recruited in hospitals and in self-help groups were asked about the use of 'topical heat', 'repose/relaxation', 'movement/massages', 'homeopathy/phytotherapy', 'acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)' and 'kinesiology/physiotherapy'.
RESULTS
From a total of 574 women with a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, 359 (62.5%) applied some form of CHA/HR. Women suffering from fatiguing disease symptoms more often selected alternative therapies (odds ratio [OR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-7.11, P = 0.006) compared with women without these characteristics. Furthermore, women dissatisfied with healthcare provided by their treating physician, more frequently (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.19-4.45, P = 0.013) chose the aforementioned alternative strategies.
CONCLUSION
As conventional therapies may not be sufficiently effective, women's needs should be closely examined, and individual treatment options should be discussed and initiated by clinicians to provide the best comprehensive treatment possible for endometriosis.
Conventional treatments are often associated with adverse effects and endometriosis pain symptoms may reoccur despite treatment. Consequently, many women use complementary health approaches (CHA) and home remedies (HR) to relieve their pain. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and the subjectively perceived efficacy of CHA/HR use by women affected by endometriosis.
DESIGN
Retrospective evaluation using medical charts and a questionnaire. Women recruited in hospitals and in self-help groups were asked about the use of 'topical heat', 'repose/relaxation', 'movement/massages', 'homeopathy/phytotherapy', 'acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)' and 'kinesiology/physiotherapy'.
RESULTS
From a total of 574 women with a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, 359 (62.5%) applied some form of CHA/HR. Women suffering from fatiguing disease symptoms more often selected alternative therapies (odds ratio [OR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-7.11, P = 0.006) compared with women without these characteristics. Furthermore, women dissatisfied with healthcare provided by their treating physician, more frequently (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.19-4.45, P = 0.013) chose the aforementioned alternative strategies.
CONCLUSION
As conventional therapies may not be sufficiently effective, women's needs should be closely examined, and individual treatment options should be discussed and initiated by clinicians to provide the best comprehensive treatment possible for endometriosis.
Date Issued
2019-02
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Acupuncture/TCM Complementary health approaches Endometriosis Home remedies Topical heat
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Gross, Elvira | |
Geraedts, Kirsten | |
Rauchfuss, Martina | |
Wölfler, Monika Maria | |
Häberlin, Felix | |
von Orelli, Stephanie | |
Eberhard, Markus | |
Imesch, Patrick | |
Imthurn, Bruno | |
Leeners, Brigitte |
Additional Credits
Journal
Reproductive biomedicine online
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
1472-6483
Access(Rights)
restricted