Effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra vaginal cream on the mental symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health, Reproductive Health Promotion Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Marine Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Vaginal atrophy is one of the most common postmenopausal symptoms affecting the quality of life among postmenopausal women. Although the use of estrogen is effective in the improvement of these symptoms, it is associated with various complications. Regarding this, the present study was conducted with the aim of examining the effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) vaginal cream on the mental symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.
Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 70 postmenopausal women referring to the health centers of Izeh city in Khuzestan Province, Iran, in 2017. The women diagnosed with vaginal atrophy were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and placebo (n=35 per group). The intervention group received licorice 2% vaginal cream for 8 weeks. The symptoms of vaginal atrophy, including irritation, itching, dyspareunia, and vaginal dryness, were examined using a self-assessment four-point Likert scale (none=0, mild=1, moderate=2, and severe=3) before and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS (version 22) using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results indicated that the licorice group experienced a significant improvement in the symptoms of vaginal atrophy after the intervention, compared to that before the intervention (P<0.001). The licorice vaginal cream led to a significant decrease in the mental symptoms of atrophy (i.e., itching, irritation, vaginal dryness, and dyspareunia) in the licorice group, compared to those in the placebo group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The application of licorice vaginal cream led to a decrease in the mental symptoms of vaginal atrophy (i.e., itching, irritation, vaginal dryness, and dyspareunia). Therefore, the use of this cream can be helpful for the women suffering from vaginal atrophy.

Keywords

References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 21, Issue 4
June 2018
Pages 53-61

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