Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41937616›Full record

ArticlePhytotherapy research : PTR2026

Trends and Patterns for the Use of Herbal Medicinal Products for Gynaecological Ailments.

Alexandra Drebka, Annika J Scholl, Teresa Ochs, Olaf Kelber, Ralph Mösges, Beatrice E Bachmeier

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alexandra DrebkaInstitute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Annika J SchollInstitute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Teresa OchsInstitute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Olaf KelberR&D, Phytomedicines Supply and Development Center, Bayer Consumer Health, Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.
Ralph MösgesInstitute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1928-810X
Beatrice E BachmeierInstitute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3592-7354

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Most Germans consider herbal medicinal products (HMPs) to be an important supplement to conventional medicine. Despite existing clinical evidence for safety and efficacy, they are still not sufficiently integrated into drug therapy of gynaecological complaints in everyday practice. By analysing patient-reported outcomes (PROs), this gap in medical care can be closed. Real-world data was extracted from the pharmaco-epidemiological database PhytoVIS. We analysed a sample (n = 1658) containing PROs from women who utilised HMPs to treat their gynaecological complaints applying descriptive and non-parametric bivariate statistical tests. Perceived effectiveness and tolerability of HMPs was rated as very good. For the treatment of menstrual complaints, Vitex agnus-castus L. was primarily used, and Actaea racemosa L. for menopausal complaints. Various herbal drugs were applied for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs), but mainly Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. Regarding the pharmaceutical form, herbal teas were preferred for the treatment of uUTIs or by very young or elderly women. All other pharmaceutical forms were favoured for menstrual and menopausal complaints or middle-aged women. The pharmaceutical form did not impact the perceived therapeutic effectiveness. Our results provide valuable insights into patient preferences and show options for their integration into existing treatment strategies. By identifying the most popular and efficacious plants for certain gynaecological ailments, we support healthcare providers to better address the growing demand for complementary treatment options. This knowledge helps in tailoring healthcare to meet patient needs and to ensure the safety and efficacy of HMPs.

Indexed as

Genital Diseases, FemalePhytotherapyPlant PreparationsPlants, MedicinalAdultAgedFemaleHumansMenopauseMiddle AgedPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresPlant ExtractsUrinary Tract InfectionsVitexYoung AdultPlant ExtractsPlant Preparationsdrug utilisationgynaecological complaintsherbal drugsherbal medicinal productspatient‐reported outcomestrends and patterns

Identifiers

PMID41937616
PMCPMC13254121

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.