The Effectiveness of Dry Carbon Dioxide Baths in Menopausal Syndrome: a Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Climacteric syndrome is characterized by significant disorders in the nervous, musculoskeletal, urinary and cardiovascular systems in women of the perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods. The main reason is a sharp decrease in estrogen levels. Menopausal hormone therapy is often used for treatment, but due to contraindications and complications, it does not always completely solve the problem. This has sparked interest in alternative treatments such as dry carbon dioxide baths. AIM. To study the effectiveness of using dry carbon dioxide baths in women with menopausal syndrome and evaluate their impact on the neurovegetative, metabolic and psycho-emotional state of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A prospective randomized study was conducted involving 70 patients with moderate climacteric syndrome aged from 48 to 60 years. Using a simple randomization method, the women were divided into 2 groups: 35 patients of the main group received 10 procedures of dry carbon dioxide baths with a CO2 concentration of 15–20 %, temperature 28–32 °C, lasting 15–20 minutes, 35 patients of the control group did not receive any treatment. To assess the effectiveness of treatment, a modified Kupperman-Uvarova menopausal index, an assessment of the effect of “hot flashes” on daily life on the HFRDIS scale, as well as daily blood pressure monitoring (SMAD) were used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. After treatment, patients in the main group observed a significantly significant (p 0.05) improvement in the patients’ condition in the form of a decrease in integral indicators of the modified menopausal index and an assessment of the impact of hot flashes on daily activity on the HFRDIS scale by 28.2 and 43.1 %, respectively, as well as in the form of a decrease in average daily systolic blood pressure by 13.7 %. CONCLUSION. The use of dry carbon dioxide baths is recommended for use in women with moderate climacteric syndrome, since this method significantly improves the quality of life of patients and is an effective non-drug that can reduce the drug load on the body of a woman suffering from neurovegetative disorders.

Keywords

• menopausal syndrome
• dry carbon dioxide baths
• central nervous system
• autonomic nervous system
• psychosomatic state