Phyto-progestins for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding without organic cause in women at high risk for breast cancer and breast cancer survivors: a prospective, pilot study

Abstract

Objectives

Some plants, such as Dioscorea Villosa (DV), Vitex Agnus Castus (VAC) and Turnera diffusa (D) have some ‘progesterone-like’ properties. We have investigated their simultaneous administration in breast cancer (BC) survivors or carriers of specific genetic mutations that can increase the risk of developing BC suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding without organic cause.

Methods

Women with irregular cycles in terms of length (interval between ≤ 24 or ≥ 38 days) without a uterine organic disease (polyps, adenomyosis, fibroids, hyperplasia/malignancy) were included. A daily diary of bleeding, questionnaires about health-related quality of life (Short Form 36) and menstrual psychophysical well-being (PGWB-1) and the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) (in women older than 40 years old) questionnaire were used. The presence of some premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms was also evaluated.

Results

In the analyzed group of women (n = 15), all experienced a regularization of the menstrual cycles, with a mean duration in the three months of use of 27.1 ± 3.2 days, with a significant reduction of menstrual pain (p = 0.02) and flow (p = 0.02) intensity. Women with PMS (7/15) reported an impovement in depression, headache and abdominal pain scores (p < 0.05). No specific deterioration of different questionnaires evaluated during treatment were observed. General satisfaction with the treatment was 6.8 ± 0.3/10 on a 10 point.

Conclusions

A combination of DV, VAC and D could be a promising candidate to treat menstrual irregularities without an organic cause, with a significant reduction of menstrual pain and flow intensity and possible additional benefits in PMS symptoms treatment in women at genetic risk for BC and BC survivors.

Keywords:

• Dioscorea Villosa
• Vitex Agnus Castus
• Turnera Diffusa
• diosgenin
• damiana
• phyto-progestins
• premenstrual syndrome
• breast cancer
• BRCA

Disclosure statement

G. Grandi received honoraria for sponsored lectures and participation in advisory boards from Bayer AG, Teva/Theramex, Sandoz Novartis, Exeltis, Organon, Gedeon Richter, Named and Effik Italy. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [GG], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.