The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of nettle oral capsules on sexual desire and satisfaction in postmenopausal women: A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
raheleh babazadeh 1
azam azarboun 2
roshanak salari 3
syyed reza mazlom 4
behnaz sovisi 5
1 assistan professor , school of nursing and midwifery , mashhad university of medical science mashhhad
2 Master Student of Midwifery, Department of midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Persian Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4 Department of nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mobini Maternity Hospital Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2026.91182.6551
Abstract
Introduction: Sexual dysfunction has the highest prevalence among sexual dysfunctions in menopausal women, and women with low sexual desire also have negative feelings about sexual satisfaction. The present study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of nettle oral capsules on sexual desire and satisfaction in menopausal women.

Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 60 postmenopausal women in Sabzevar city who had sexual desire and satisfaction disorders. 60 women were randomly divided into nettle oral capsule (n=30) and placebo (n=30) groups using alternating blocks and consumed one 500 mg nettle oral capsule or placebo daily for 4 weeks. The main data collection tool was the Halbert Sexual Desire and Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire to access changes in dependent variables at baseline and the fourth and eighth weeks after the intervention.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of postmenopausal women in the intervention and control groups were 52.1±4.2 and 52.2±3.1 years, respectively. Before the intervention, the mean and standard deviation of sexual desire and satisfaction scores in the intervention group were 54.1±2.4 and 64.4±1.1, and in the control group, they were 53.2±2.3 and 62.7±1.5. In the fourth week of the study, these values were 57.1±3.0 and 78.1±4.1 in the intervention group and 53.7±2.3 and 63.3±1.5 in the control group.

Conclusion: Nettle oral capsules improve sexual desire and satisfaction in menopausal women and can be recommended as a safe complementary treatment due to the lack of specific side effects.
Keywords
Nettle
menopause
sexual desire
sexual satisfaction
Subjects
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 April 2026