Role of Vinca minor in Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Due to Uterine Fibroid: A Pre–Post Single-Arm Pilot Study

Abstract Uterine fibroids are the most common, benign, monoclonal pelvic tumors in women of reproductive age and as many as 1 in 20 women aged between 30 and 49 years consult their general practitioners each year because of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) necessitating the use of complementary therapies like homeopathy. This study investigates the use of homeopathic medicine Vinca minor mother tincture in 31 patients of uterine fibroid with HMB. The primary objective was to study the effect of empirically selected Vinca minor in controlling HMB due to uterine fibroids, assessed by Higham pictorial blood assessment chart (HPBAC) after 6 months of intervention. The secondary objective was to compare the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life (UFS-QOL) after 6 months of intervention. A pilot study was conducted at the out-patient department of Homoeopathy Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. The primary outcome was to assess changes in HPBAC score over 6 months and the secondary outcome was to assess the changes in UFSQOL over 6 months of treatment. Data were analyzed as per protocol by paired t-test and repeated measure analysis of variance overall. Out of 54 patients screened, 33 patients were enrolled in the study and Vinca minor mother tincture was administered in every case for a period of 6 months. There was a statistically significant reduction in the heavy bleeding (96.7%) as assessed through the HPBAC score (p < 0.05). Significant improvement was also found in the quality of life of the patients. This study has shown positive results in reducing the heavy bleeding and improving the quality of life. More work is needed in a controlled setting for evaluating its potential.