Possibilities of treatment of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle with phytotherapy

Abstract

A woman’s reproductive system is one of the sensitive indicators of the female health. Its disorders indicate the development of any pathological process in the organism, which is often manifested by changes in specific functions. The impact of constant stress during the war on women who are in the frontline territories is becoming especially relevant today. In modern conditions, when psycho-emotional stress is a part of daily existence, it leads to the formation of pathologies that reduce the quality of life and fertility of a woman.The objective: to study the impact of stress on the female organism and the formation of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle and to analyze the effect of phytotherapy in the complex treatment of such conditions in women.Materials and methods. 50 women of reproductive age (18–45 years old) with various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders, which developed during their stay in the front-line territories, were under observed. The patients were diagnosed with the following disorders of the menstrual cycle: absent of menstruation, light and infrequent menstruation, heavy, frequrnt and irregular menstrustions, pain and other contitions related to female sexual organs and menstrual cycle.All patients had clinical and laboratory, hormonal and instrumental examinations to determine the form of menstrual cycle disorder. Together with the basic therapy of the specified pathologies, all patients were prescribed a dietary supplement, which included a mixture of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus – 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, for 3 months, 2 capsules 2 times a day with with the aim of achieving hormone-correcting, sedative, analgesic, diuretic effects. Control clinical-hormonal and instrumental studies were conducted after 3 months.Results. During the study reduction of complaints was observeed (emotional lability – by 68%, periodic headache – by 36%, sleep disturbances – by 48%, anxiety – by 50%, fatigue – by 60%), as well as the normalization of the hormonal level – a decrease of prolactin concentration in 2 times, cortisol and follicle-stimulating hormone – 1.5 times, luteinizing hormone – 1.7 times, estradiol – 1.3 times, and an increase of progesterone level – in 7 times.A decrease or disappearance of clinical symptoms the menstrual cycle disorders, namely, a normalization of the frequency, duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle, a decrease in the amount of blood loss and manifestations of dysmenorrhea were determined.Conclusions. Phytotherapy, the composition of which contains a preparation with a blend of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus– 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, is effective in complex treatment of various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders.