The use of home remedies and complementary health approaches in endometriosis.

Kohl Schwartz, Alexandra; Gross, Elvira; Geraedts, Kirsten; Rauchfuss, Martina; Wölfler, Monika Maria; Häberlin, Felix; von Orelli, Stephanie; Eberhard, Markus; Imesch, Patrick; Imthurn, Bruno; Leeners, Brigitte (2019). The use of home remedies and complementary health approaches in endometriosis. Reproductive biomedicine online, 38(2), pp. 260-271. Elsevier 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.10.009

[img] Text
1-s2.0-S147264831830600X-main.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (491kB)

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.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Gynaecology

UniBE Contributor:

Kohl Schwartz, Alexandra

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1472-6483

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Monika Zehr

Date Deposited:

05 Apr 2019 11:17

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:26

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.10.009

PubMed ID:

30612955

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Acupuncture/TCM Complementary health approaches Endometriosis Home remedies Topical heat

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.125933

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/125933

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback