Efficacy of Guizhi Fuling Wan for Primary dysmenorrhea: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of main gynecological complaints in women of child-bearing age, but there are limited effective treatments available. Guizhi Fuling Wan (GFW), one of the most widely known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal formulas, has been the treatment of choice for gynecological disease in China. A growing number of studies have shown that GFW is beneficial for patients with PD. However, the quality of evidence is limited, and there are few studies on the treatment of PD by GFW with specific TCM syndromes. Therefor we will conduct a randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy and safety of GFW for PD patients with heat-burning blood-stasis syndrome.Methods and analysisThis study is designed as a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to the GFW group (patients receive GFW) and the control group (patients receive a matching placebo) in a 1:1 ratio. The participants will receive either GFW or placebo, twice daily for 3 menstrual cycles with a 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome is the pain intensity reduction measured by a Visual Analog Scale. The secondary outcomes is the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale, the Self-rating Depression Scale, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale, the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey and the dysmenorrhea diarymenstrual pain.. All outcomes are assessed at baseline, and the 4th, 8th, and 12th week during the interventions, as well as at the 16th, 20th and 24th week follow-up. Any adverse events will be recorded throughout the study.DiscussionThis is the first double-blinded RCT to assess the effectiveness and safety of GFW in treating PD with the heat-burning blood-stasis syndrome. The scientific and rigorous methodology design of this trial will provide significant evidence regarding the use of GFW to treat PD in future.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR2000034118. Regisrered on 25 June 2020.