Vaginal hop was as effective as estradiol in improving the sexual dysfunction among postmenopausal women with no adverse events. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Effect ofL. (Hop) on Postmenopausal Sexual Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Int J Clin Pract. 2023 ;2023:9528335. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37101856
Zahra Vahedpoorfard
OBJECTIVE: Female sexual dysfunction is a common distressing problem among women, which may result from reducing circulating endogenous estrogen.L. (hop) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and estrogenic properties. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of hop on postmenopausal sexual dysfunction.
METHODS: In the current randomized clinical trial, study populations consisted of 63 postmenopausal women who were randomly categorized into two groups. In the hop group ( = 33), women received the vaginal gel containing Hop extract every day for seven days and then continued for two months, twice weekly. In the estradiol group ( = 30), women were treated with vaginal estradiol (0.625 mg) over two 28-day cycles (21 days of therapy and seven days rest). The sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire before and after intervention.
RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in FSFI scores (sexual desire, sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, satisfaction, orgasm, sexual pain, and total FSFI) ( > 0.05) were noticed after treatment between the hop and estradiol groups.
CONCLUSION: Vaginal hop was as effective as estradiol in improving the sexual dysfunction among postmenopausal women with no adverse events. This trial is registered with IRCT20210405050859N1.