Abstract
Background Menopause is one of the most critical stages of a woman's life and is accompanied by symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sexual dysfunction, mucus atrophy, and vaginal dryness. Women tend to use complementary and alternative medicine such as herbs rather than hormone replacement therapy to alleviate these symptoms. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Jazar supplement (herbal supplement comprising Vitex, fennel, and carrot seeds) on sexual function, quality of life, and vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Methods This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted on ninety postmenopausal women. Participants were randomized to intervention/control groups using block randomization. The intervention group received four Jazar capsules (500 mg each) daily, while the control group received a placebo for eight weeks. Data were gathered using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) before the intervention and at weeks 4, 8, and 10. Vaginal pH and vaginal maturation index (VMI) were measured before and at the end of the study. Results Eighty-four women completed the trial, and six women withdrew. There were no remarkable differences between the two groups in terms of quality of life, sexual function, VMI, and vaginal pH at baseline. At the end of the study, participants in the intervention group had a significantly lower score in terms of quality of life (P < 0.001) and vaginal pH (P=0.001), and a higher FSFI (P < 0.001) and VMI (P=0.030) score compared to the control group. Conclusion Based on the findings of the present study on menopausal women, the Jazar supplement significantly improved quality of life and sexual function and prevented or delayed vaginal atrophy.
Highlights
Menopause is one of the most critical stages of a woman’s life determined by changes in the level of sexual hormones, cessation of menstruation, and inability to conceive [1]. is phenomenon usually occurs between 45 and 60 years of age [2]. e mean age of menopause is reported 48.2 in Iran [3], while estimated to be approximately 51 in developed countries [4]. e number of postmenopausal women is estimated to rise from 742 million in 2010 to 1.2 billion by 2030, with the highest increase in developing countries [5].Menopause is a normal physiological condition that induces both physical and psychological changes, thereby influencing the quality of life [6]
Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is typically considered a primary treatment to improve the symptoms of menopause [10]
About 51% of women use Complementary and Alternative Medicine alternative medicine (CAM) in menopause, with more than 60% confirming the efficacy of CAM in the alleviation of symptoms [13]. ese women use different CAM methods, including relaxation, meditation, aromatherapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), reflexology, acupuncture, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and herbs [14]
Summary
Menopause is one of the most critical stages of a woman’s life determined by changes in the level of sexual hormones, cessation of menstruation, and inability to conceive [1]. is phenomenon usually occurs between 45 and 60 years of age [2]. e mean age of menopause is reported 48.2 in Iran [3], while estimated to be approximately 51 in developed countries [4]. e number of postmenopausal women is estimated to rise from 742 million in 2010 to 1.2 billion by 2030, with the highest increase in developing countries [5].Menopause is a normal physiological condition that induces both physical and psychological changes, thereby influencing the quality of life [6]. Menopause is one of the most critical stages of a woman’s life and is accompanied by symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sexual dysfunction, mucus atrophy, and vaginal dryness. E purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Jazar supplement (herbal supplement comprising Vitex, fennel, and carrot seeds) on sexual function, quality of life, and vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. At the end of the study, participants in the intervention group had a significantly lower score in terms of quality of life (P < 0.001) and vaginal pH (P 0.001), and a higher FSFI (P < 0.001) and VMI (P 0.030) score compared to the control group. Based on the findings of the present study on menopausal women, the Jazar supplement significantly improved quality of life and sexual function and prevented or delayed vaginal atrophy
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