Impact of flavonoid-rich herbal medicines on idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Persian medicine has recommended flavonoid-rich plants for idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), highlighting their blood-reducing and antioxidant properties in menorrhagia. We aimed to explore the potential of flavonoid-rich plants as a safe and effective therapy for HMB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on 10 databases from inception to July 11, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the use of Persian medicine-recommended plants for idiopathic HMB were included. Outcome measures included the pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC), duration of bleeding, quality of life, and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: A total of 12 RCTs involving 425 participants were included in the analysis. The results indicated the potential benefits of plants in terms of PBAC, duration of bleeding, and quality of life. Furthermore, these plants were found to cause a slight statistically significant increase in hemoglobin levels. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the use of the Persian medicine-recommended flavonoid-rich plants for idiopathic HMB. It suggests that flavonoid-rich plants based on Persian medicine may be effective and safe options for idiopathic HMB.