Effect of Persian traditional medicine based herbal vaginal gel in vaginal atrophy

Vaginal atrophy is a common condition in postmenopausal women due to low estrogen causing dryness, irritation, infections, and painful intercourse. Treatments include non-hormonal (moisturizers, lubricants) and hormonal options (vaginal estrogens, phytoestrogens) Moreover, Traditional Persian medicine suggests plants as a potential remedy for vaginal atrophy. Auriculotherapy is also gaining popularity as a non-invasive and efficient treatment option.

To evaluate the effect of a vaginal herbal gel and auriculotherapy compared to a placebo on vaginal atrophy of postmenopausal women.

In a single-blind, randomized trial, 90 menopausal women with vaginal atrophy symptoms were divided into Herbal gel, Auriculotherapy, and placebo groups (30 each). The study measured subjective symptoms (SSS-VVA), sexual function (FSFI), and quality of life (MENQOL) before, at four-, and eight-weeks post intervention.

Comparison of SSS-VVA showed significant improvement in vaginal itching, dryness, and pain in all groups compared to baseline. The herbal gel group demonstrated a more significant reduction in atrophic vaginitis indicators compared to placebo (P < 0.001) and greater decrease in vaginal dryness than auriculotherapy (P = 0.006). Additionally, both herbal gel and auriculotherapy groups exhibited significant improvements in FSFI, with desire (p = 0.038), orgasm (p < 0.001), and satisfaction (p = 0.004) showing greater improvement with herbal gel than auriculotherapy. Regarding MENQOL, both interventions improved patients' condition, with auriculotherapy showing overall greater improvement than herbal gel.

Both interventions effectively reduced symptoms and improved quality of life, but the herbal gel outperformed auriculotherapy in reducing dryness and enhancing sexual function.