Abstract
This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of vaginal gel preparations versus placebo in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction syndrome. Searches of electronic databases from inception to January 2023 identified 8 trials (N = 672) that reported the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and compared hormonal (oestrogen, oxytocin) and/or non-hormonal (chamomile, fennel) interventions against placebo. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess studies' quality. The vaginal gel group had a significantly higher total FSFI endpoint score (mean difference [MD] = 6.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.79--9.55; P < 0.001) than placebo. Non-hormonal gels exhibited a greater FSFI total score (MD = 6.73, 95% CI: 4.7--8.76; P < 0.001) than hormonal gels (MD = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.87--3.64; P < 0.001), positively impacting all FSFI domains. These findings indicate that chamomile and fennel vaginal gels may improve the overall FSFI 6 domains score, reflecting enhancements in postmenopausal women's sexual activity and satisfaction.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 17-29
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Soliman, A., Alrashidi, H., Ghorab, M. A., Reem, Al Riyami, N., Ashour, A. S., Mohammed, Y. A., & Saad, A. H. (2025). Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 17-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040
MLA 9
Soliman, Ahmed, et al. "Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, pp. 17-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040.
Chicago (author–date)
Soliman, Ahmed, Hanaa Alrashidi, Mohamed A. Ghorab, Reem, Nihal Al Riyami, Ahmed SA Ashour, Yasmine A. Mohammed, and Ahmed H. Saad. 2025. "Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 25 (1): 17-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040.
Harvard
Soliman, A., Alrashidi, H., Ghorab, M. A., Reem, Al Riyami, N., Ashour, A. S., Mohammed, Y. A. and Saad, A. H. (2025) 'Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), pp. 17-29. doi:10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040.
Vancouver
Soliman A, Alrashidi H, Ghorab MA, Reem, Al Riyami N, Ashour AS, et al. Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;25(1):17-29. doi:10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040
IEEE
A. Soliman, H. Alrashidi, M. A. Ghorab, Reem, N. Al Riyami, A. S. Ashour, Y. A. Mohammed, and A. H. Saad, "Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations on the Female Sexual Satisfaction Index in Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 17-29, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.6.2024.040.