Use of biologically active food supplements for menstrual disorders

Abstract

Introduction. Gynecological morbidity in adolescents and young women is presented predominantly by functional disorders that do not have a distinct organic substrate and develop as response to stress factors. Objective: to evaluate the response of the menstrual cycle to the cyclic intake of vitamins and plant extracts in adolescents and young women with stress-dependent menstrual disorders. Materials and methods: The observational study included 40 women aged 16–28 years with anovulatory normogonadotropic ovarian dysfunction that clinically manifested as abnormal uterine bleeding (n = 7), oligomenorrhea (n = 29), or amenorrhea (n = 4). The subjects were recommended a 12-week administration of Time Factor vitamin-plant complex as a food supplement. The examination included the assessment of clinical parameters, hormonal blood profile and autonomic balance, ultrasound monitoring before use and in the 3rd cycle of Time-Factor complex administration. Results: the autonomic dysfunction symptoms reversed to an acceptable level in 62.5% of patients, the average score of autonomic dysfunction decreased from 33.8 ± 11.7 to 16.8 ± 3.87 points (p < 0.001) in 12 weeks’ time. The menstrual intervals reduced from 51.2 ± 11.5 to 32.5 ± 16.2 days (p < 0.01) in 65% of women. Ovulation in the final complex administration cycle was reported in 25% of women. Positive dynamics of folliculogenesis, endometrial thickness and hormone levels in plasma were also observed. Conclusion. The use of Time Factor biologically active complex in adolescents and young women with stress-dependent menstrual disorders improves autonomic balance, quality of life and has a positive effect on the menstrual cycle characteristics. The method is effective for oligomenorrhea-type menstrual disorders and should not be used as the only remedy in patients with amenorrhea or abnormal uterine bleeding.