Comparison Effects of Fenugreek extract Vaginal Cream and Ultra Low Dose Vaginal Estrogen on Atrophic Vaginitis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Atrophic vaginitis is a common problem in postmenopausal women and results from decreased levels of blood estrogen. It is associated with symptoms of itching, burning, dyspareunia, and postmenopausal bleeding. The present study evaluated effects of fenugreek extract on atrophic vaginitis. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 60 postmenopausal women in Ardabil, Iran, in 2018. The participants were selected using block randomization with the allocation ratio 1:1. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, checklist of inclusion criteria before intervention, and clinical and laboratory signs of atrophic vaginitis once before and once after intervention and checklist of adverse events, drug use checklist, consent checklist Completed treatment after follow-up. The primary outcome measure in this study was the clinical symptoms of atrophic vaginitis and Vaginal Maturation Index . The data were analyzed using Chi-square tests by adjusted Mantel Henzel, U-Mann-Witney and General linear model. Findings: The mean difference (confidence interval) of atrophic vaginal symptoms 12 weeks after intervention with baseline score adjustment 3.100 (1.43- 4.75) was in favor of control group (P=0.001). This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) in intra-group comparison. VMI (Vaginal Maturation Index) was less than 49 in 86.7% and 46.7% of the participants in the intervention and control groups. [RR(95% CI): 0.41 (0.00-26.66)] This difference was significant in the control group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that total fenugreek extract could be effective in treating signs of atrophic vaginitis but it was not as effective as ultra-low-dose estrogen.