Hanyang Med Rev.  2010 May;30(2):115-125. 10.7599/hmr.2010.30.2.115.

Complementary Medicine in Gynecology

• Sim JC

• KMID: 2284499
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2010.30.2.115

Abstract

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for health maintenance and disease management has been on a steady rise for more than 10 years. The number of visits to alternative care providers seems to have exceeded the number of visits to primary care providers. Most of these users are women who are frequently making decisions regarding treatment options without the advice of their physicians. The spectrum of CAM is broad and includes methods worthy of integration into our current practics, as well as ineffective or fraudulent practices that should be avoided. The management of many women's health issues can be enhanced by the integration of selected CAM approaches. Important issues of CAM use in the gynecologic field are menstrual disorders such as premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea, Infertility and menopause. The purpose of this article is to provide the clinician with current information of CAM of the above mentioned gynecologic issues and to be helpful in providing benefits to patients with appropriate treatment options.

Keyword

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Gynecologic issues; Treatment options

MeSH Terms

Complementary Therapies
Disease Management
Dysmenorrhea
Female
Gynecology
Humans
Infertility
Menopause
Premenstrual Syndrome
Primary Health Care
Women's Health

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Classification of phytoestrogen.

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