PURPOSE:

Evaluating homeopathic treatment for dysmenorrhea.

METHODS:

Prospective multicenter observational study in primary care, using standardized questionnaires to record for 2 years diseases, quality of life, medical history, consultations, all treatments, other health services use.

RESULTS:

Fifty-seven physicians treated 128 women (age 32.4 +/- 7.5 years, mean +/- SD) and 11 girls (13.7 +/- 4.0). Women had dysmenorrhea for 11.6 +/- 9.0 (girls 3.1 +/- 1.5) years. Patients received 7.5 +/- 6.5 (5.9 +/- 3.7) homeopathic prescriptions. Diagnoses and complaints severity improved markedly [at 24 months, dysmenorrhea relieved by > 50% of baseline rating in 46.1% (59) of the women and 45.5% (5) of the girls] with large effect sizes (24 months: Cohen's d from 1.18 to 2.93). In addition, QoL improved (24 months: SF-36 physical component score: 0.25, mental component score 0.25, KINDL sum score 0.27). Conventional medication changed little and use of other health services decreased.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with dysmenorrhea improved under homeopathic treatment. Controlled studies should investigate efficacy and effectiveness.