Beneficial Effects of Oral Lactobacillus on Pain Severity in Women Suffering from Endometriosis: A Pilot Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: This study assessed the effects of a lactobacillus-based medication on pain intensity scores in women with endometriosis. Materials and Methods: The present randomized pilot placebo-controlled trial was done on eligible women who were surgically and pathologically diagnosed with endometriosis. Thirty-seven participants who had not received hormonal treatment in the last three months, were enrolled and randomized into LactoFem (R) and placebo groups. Lactobacillus capsules or placebo were administrated orally once a day for 8 weeks. Patients were assessed for pain severity using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain at baseline and after 8 and 12 weeks post-intervention. Results: Mean age of participants and mean body mass index (BMI) for the LactoFem (R) and control groups were comparable. All patients had stage 3 and 4 of the disease based on revised American fertility society (AFS) classification of endometriosis. Mean initial pain scores for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain were 6.53 +/- 2.88, 4.82 +/- 3.76 and 4.19 +/- 3.53, respectively in the LactoFem (R) group and 5.60 +/- 2.06, 3.67 +/- 2.64 and 2.88 +/- 2.80, respectively for the control group; the two groups had comparable scores in this regard. There was more decrease in pain scores for both dysmenorrhea and the overall pain after 8 weeks of treatment in LactoFem (R) group compared to the control group. The scores for dysmenorrhea were 6.53 +/- 2.88 and 5.60 +/- 2.06 in the LactoFem (R) and control groups. respectively, before intervention but, after 8-week treatment, these values were 3.07 +/- 2.49 and 4.47 +/- 2.13 (P).018), respectively. The changes in overall pain score in the LactoFeme and control group during this period were 7.33 +/- 7.00 and 4.11 +/- 1.68, respectively (P=0.017). Conclusion: This study showed some beneficial effects of lactobacillus administration on endometriosis-related pain.