The efficacy of alum-containing ferrous thermal water in the management of chronic inflammatory gynaecological disorders--a randomized controlled study

Objectives

Treatment of gynaecological disorders is a frequent, but only barely substantiated application of balneotherapy. This study investigated potential differences between the clinical symptoms, pelvic blood flow and specific laboratory parameters of patients undergoing balneotherapy with two different types of immersion: alum-containing and tap water.

Study design

The study population comprised 40 patients (mean age: 39.4 years), randomized into two groups. All subjects took 20 min baths in 38 °C water every other day, for 10 occasions altogether. Study parameters were: pain relief, reduction in tissue growth, hormone levels, psychic status, and pelvic blood flow.

Results

Thermal water improved the clinical parameters of both groups significantly. In comparison with tap water, treatment with alum-containing water accomplished significantly greater progress, as reflected by the relief of pain elicited by handling the uterus and improvement of psychic status. Laboratory parameters (FSH, LH, prolactin, oestradiol and beta-endorphin serum levels) and the Doppler index did not change in either group.

Conclusions

As demonstrated by our results, 3-week balneotherapy is a potentially useful adjunct for the management of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, but further, long-term studies are notwithstanding necessary.