EVENING PRIMROSE OIL AND DANAZOL EFFICACY IN MASTALGIA – AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WITH RESPECT TO THE BREAST PAIN CHART

Abstract

Mastalgia is the most common symptom seen in women who had breast imaging, and 70% of
women have breast discomfort at least once in their lives. Mastalgia is characterised as a
feeling of stiffness, discomfort, or pain in one or both breasts. Aims: Observation of
response of treating mastalgia with Evening Primrose Oil (1000 mg BD) and Danazol
(50 mg BD) Methods: The study was conducted in the department of General surgery at
Burdwan Medical College & Hospital (BMCH). The registers of the Surgery Outdoor
Patient Department were crosschecked and the list of all females presenting with
mastalgia treated with Danazol and Evening Primrose Oil in dosage mentioned for this
study, in the period between October 2019 to March 2021 was made . A total 100
women were selected an initial clinical assessment and breast imaging and had maintained a
proper breast pain chart. Results: The most common age group in cyclical mastalgia was
18-25 years involving 81.9% patients while in non-cyclical mastalgia the most common age
group was 26-35 years involving 42.9% patients. 24.7 years and 30.3 years was the mean age
for cyclical and noncyclical mastalgia. In our study overall mastalgia showed better useful
response with Danazol (59.2%) than with EPO (41.2%) and this difference was statistically
significant (Fisher’s exact test 2-tailed p value 0.05). Cyclical mastalgia showed better
observed response with Danazol (69.4%) than EPO (47.2%), this difference coming out to be
statistically significant, Fisher’s exact test 2-tailed p value 0.02. Non-cyclical mastalgia
showed slightly better observed response with Danazol (30.8%) than EPO (26.7%), this
difference coming out to be statistically insignificant, Fisher’s exact test 2-tailed p value
0.40. Conclusion: Danazol (Danocrine) offered good pain control in mastalgia than Evening
Primrose Oil (EPO). Danazol appears to be a better pain reliever in cyclical mastalgia
compared to non-cyclical mastalgia.