Objective. Effect of isopropanolic Cimicifuga racemosa extract (iCR) on
uterine fibroid size compared with
tibolone. Method. The randomized, double-blind, controlled study in China enrolled 244 patients aged 40-60 years with menopausal symptoms (Kupperman Menopause Index ≥ 15). The participants were treated with either iCR of 40 mg crude
drug/day (N = 122) or
tibolone 2.5 mg/day (N = 122) orally for 3 months in 2004. Now, we investigated the subset of all women (N = 62) with at least one
uterine fibroid at onset of treatment for the effect of iCR (N = 34) on
fibroid size compared with
tibolone (N = 28) by transvaginal ultrasonography. Results. The median
myoma volume decreased upon iCR by as much as -30% (P = 0.016) but increased upon
tibolone by +4.7%. The percentage of volume change, mean diameter change and geometric mean diameter change of the iCR group compared to
tibolone were statistically significant (P = 0.016, 0.021, 0.016 respectively). Conclusion. Our results suggest that iCR (
Remifemin) is a valid herbal medicinal product in patients with uterine
myomas as it provides adequate relief from menopausal symptoms and inhibits growth of the
myomas in contrast to
tibolone.