Uterine Fibroids: A Clinical Study with USG Follow-up
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2003 May / Jun VOL V NO 3.
Dr Girish Gupta
Dr Naveen Gupta
Dr Vijay Singh
Dr (Mrs) Deepa Bisht
ABSTRACT
A total of two hundred and seventeen (217) cases of Uterine Fibroids (Single
and Multiple) were registered and available for proper followup of treatment.
Analysis was made to assess the percent response in each case following
treatment with Homoeopathic remedies at Gaurang Clinic and Centre for
Homoeopathic Research, Lucknow (GCCHR) till December 31, 2002. Timely diagnosis
by ultrasonography followed by treatment with Homoeopathy showed excellent
response in significant number of cases avoiding surgery which has been the lone
option in modern system of medicine. After homoeopathic treatment, seventy four
(74) patients were cured, twenty one (21) patients were best improving, showing
more than 50 % reduction in the size of fibroid, sixty four (64) patients showed
significant improvement, thirty one (31) maintained status quo and twenty one
(21) patients did not improve. Status could not be reliably evaluated in four
(4) (01.85%) cases due to confusing Ultrasonography reports. Two (2) (00.92 %)
cases were of Nabothian Cysts and both of them were cured. The overall results
of this study are encouraging and opens new vistas for Homoeopaths to treat
patients of Uterine Fibroid with confidence.
INTRODUCTION
Uterine fibromyoma are benign growths in the uterus (subserous, intramural,
submucous). Fibroids may occur at any age usually from menarche till menopause
but becomes most evident during reproductive and postmenopausal period. The peak
age of incidence is during 35 - 45 years of age (Dawn 1990). Novak in 1979
reported it in a young girl of 11 years. After menopause, the tumour may or may
not regress spontaneously but never develops a fresh. It also delays menopause.
Polymenorrhoea, metrorrhagia, intermenstrual bleeding, gradual swelling of
abdomen, dull ache may be the presenting symptoms. However, pressure symptoms
such as frequency and retention of urine, oedema of legs may be present but in
some cases there may be no symptoms (Dawn 1990).
Although no definite relation is noticed between parity and Uterine fibroids,
the patient may be of low parity (either nulliparous or with 1-2 children). The
occurrence of uterine fibroid is on the increase in modern living due to
increasing intervention in normal reproductive life of a woman. Before advent of
different unnatural devices of family planning like contraceptive pills and
IUCD, the prevalence of such type of unnatural pelvic growths was very low.
Emergence of diagnostic tools like Ultrasonography and CT. scan etc has made the
diagnosis easier. Earlier, before advent of these investigative modalities,
majority of cases remained undetected.
In modern system of medicine the treatment of Uterine fibroids is chiefly
surgical removal of the growth or of the uterus in its entirety depending upon
the extent of the lesion and the desire of the woman to retain reproductive
ability. Many cases deferred surgery owing to poor general health, advanced age,
presence of diabetes and/or hypertension and repeated laparotomy conducted in
the past for other surgical conditions. Surgery was the only choice. There are
many remedies in the Homoeopathy which cover the signs and symptoms simulating
uterine fibroids. There has been sporadic reporting in the Homoeopathic journals
about successful treatment of such problems in individual cases. Such cases were
neither scrutinized by modern diagnostic gadgets nor reproduced repeatedly to
make them acceptable to modern medical scientists.
INCIDENCE
The incidence of uterine fibroid among gynecological patients in England was
3.3 %. Haines in 1975 reported that about one - tenth (1/10th)
of all gynaecological patients in England suffer from fibroids. Negroes get
fibroids three times more than whites (Dawn 1990).
OBJECTIVE
Homoeopathic physicians all over the world have reported cure by
Homoeopathic medicines in the patients of uterine fibroid. There are umpteen
number of drugs in Homoeopathic system of medicine which could be prescribed on
holistic basis. These claims, however, have neither been scientifically assessed
nor published. To prove or disprove such claims a methodical study was
undertaken at GCCHR, which is still continued, to critically assess the efficacy
of Homoeopathic drugs in patients of uterine fibroid as well as to establish the
predisposing and causative factors, age group more prone to this disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
1. Patients: A total of two hundred and seventeen (217) women suffering from
Uterine Fibroids (Single or Multiple) were registered and available for proper
follow - up at G C C H R till December 31, 2002. These cases were analyzed to
assess the percent response of Homoeopathic drugs in cases of Uterine fibroids.
2. Ultrasonography: Ultrasonography was the main parameter to confirm the
diagnosis and to assess the response of treatment. In most cases it was repeated
every 3 months. In few cases, ultrasonologist and their machine remained the
same and in other cases both were changed just to have cross check and to remove
any bias element in their reporting.
3. Repertorisation: All cases of Uterine Fibroids were repertorised using
Hompath.
4. Software: An indigenous software was developed by Computer Programmer to
assess the percent response in the patients of Uterine fibroid after
Homoeopathic treatment.
5. Homoeopathic remedies: The main drugs employed in the present study are
mentioned with individual cases in the flow chart.
FEW CASE REPORTS OF MODEL CASES
CASE - 1 : A -9127
A 38 yr, multipara with 2 Caesarian deliveries and 3 spontaneous abortions
was having profuse menstrual bleeding with severe dysmenorrhoea with pain and
heaviness lower abdomen since 4 - 5 months (LMP - 15/09/2002). Patient had
undergone tubectomy 4 years back. Ultrasonography of pelvis dated August 12,
2002 revealed bulky uterus with multiple echogenic focal parenchymal masses in
uterine pulp suggestive of Uterine fibroids (Plate -1). The case was
repertorised. Symptoms considered for repertorisation were religious dreams,
dreams of feasting, of water, of dead relatives, of death of relatives, of dead
bodies, of unsuccessful efforts (Magnesia-sulphurica), offended
easily, desire for company, fastidious, aversion to conversation, remorse,
anxiety about family, sentimental, amelioration from consolation and desire for
sweet things. Arsenicum album and Magnesia-sulphurica were selected from
various drugs of choice.
FOLLOWUP CASE-1 : A - 9127
Ist prescription: September 23, 2002: Arsenicum-album 1000 single
dose was prescribed followed by Magnesia-sulphurica 30 for eight weeks.
Ist follow -up: November 22, 2002: Menses appeared on 30/10/2002 but were
less profuse, lasted 9 days with reduced pain. Pain lower abdomen also reduced.
No dreams except religious dreams, dreams of water and of dead relatives were
reported by the patient. Only Magnesia-sulphurica 30 was repeated
for six weeks.
IInd follow-up: January 07, 2003: Menses on 25/12/2002 less profuse,
lasted 8 days with no dysmenorrhoea and pain lower abdomen. The patient reported
no dreams. Ultrasonography of pelvis dated December 14, 2002 showed normal
Uterus with no trace of fibroids (Plate - 1) after four (4) months of
treatment.
