Background: Endometriosis is a gynecologic disease characterized by a wide range of symptoms and comorbidities. Conventional treatment options include chemical drugs and surgery. Complementary medicine, including herbal therapies, shows potential therapeutic effects in disease management. This article reports on the role of herbal and complementary medicine in the treatment of ovarian endometrioma.
Case Summary: The patient was a 16-year-old woman presenting with back pain and a sensation of abdominal heaviness. She declined surgical intervention and was treated with herbal medicines. In addition to herbal treatments, therapeutic procedures such as cupping, acupuncture, radiofrequency ablation, and leech therapy were performed. After five months, the patient experienced a reduction in pain intensity, accompanied by a decrease in the size of the ovarian cyst.
Conclusion: Given the observed benefits of complementary medicine in symptom management, herbal and complementary therapies may be considered as adjuncts in the treatment of endometriosis. However, further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to better define the role of each intervention and medication.