Vitex agnus-castus extract (Ze 440) improves symptoms in women with menstrual cycle irregularities

Authors

  • R. Eltbogen Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Bürgerspital, Solothurn, Switzerland
  • M. Litschgi Consultant for Gynecology and Obstetrics Schaffhausen, Switzerland
  • U. E. Gasser ClinResearch Ltd. Aesch, Switzerland
  • A. Flueeli Zeller Medical AG Romanshorn, Switzerland
  • S. Nebel Zeller Medical AG Romanshorn, Switzerland
  • C. Zahner Zeller Medical AG Romanshorn, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2016.28.86-91

Keywords:

Menstrual Cycle Irregularities (MCIs), menstrual cycle disorders, Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus (VAC), Ze 440, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, observational study

Abstract

Principle: This noninterventional, observational study (NIS) had been conducted by Swiss gynaecologists and general practitioners in primary medical routine care.

The objective of this NIS was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) extract (Ze 440: premens, Zeller Medical AG, Romanshorn, Switzerland) in women suffering from menstrual cycle irregularities, such as polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or amenorrhea.

Methods: A total of 211 patients were included in this NIS and symptoms associated with menstrual cycle irregularities (MCIs) and menstrual bleeding were assessed at baseline visit (BV) and at a follow-up visit (FV) after treatment with VAC extract during 3 subsequent menstrual cycles. The median age of patients was 35.3 ± 8.8 years.

Results: The proportion of patients with remission or improvement of MCIs (all in all) and specific symptoms such as polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea was 79–85% at the FV. The proportion of patients with remission or improvement of symptoms related to menstrual bleeding such as dysmenorrhea, intermenstrual bleeding, hypermenorrhea, menometrorrhagia, ovulation bleeding, premenstrual or postmenstrual bleeding was 60–88% at FV. Out of 53 patients who reported an unfulfilled desire to have children at BV, 12 women (23%) got pregnant during treatment with VAC extract. At the FV, 91% of the physicians and 92% of the patients were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the achieved treatment outcomes, and 80% of the patients confirmed their preference to continue treatment with VAC extract.

Conclusion: This observational study in routine medical care showed that treatment with VAC extract (Ze 440) clearly ameliorated MCIs, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea and was well tolerated. The majority of patients decided to continue treatment with VAC extract.

Author Biography

R. Eltbogen, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Bürgerspital, Solothurn

President of the Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy, MD

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Published

2016-04-21

How to Cite

Eltbogen, R., Litschgi, M., Gasser, U. E., Flueeli, A., Nebel, S., & Zahner, C. (2016). Vitex agnus-castus extract (Ze 440) improves symptoms in women with menstrual cycle irregularities. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (28), 86–91. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2016.28.86-91

Issue

No. 28 (2016)

Section

Reproductive endocrinology

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Copyright (c) 2016 R. Eltbogen, M. Litschgi, U. E. Gasser, A. Flueeli, S. Nebel, C. Zahner

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