# 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

## TL;DR

This study found that non-hormonal vaginal gels, like chamomile and fennel, improved sexual satisfaction more than hormonal gels in postmenopausal women.

## Contribution

The study is the first to compare non-hormonal and hormonal vaginal gels in postmenopausal women using a meta-analysis of sexual satisfaction scores.

## Key findings

- Non-hormonal gels showed a significantly higher total FSFI score than hormonal gels.
- Vaginal gels improved all domains of the Female Sexual Function Index compared to placebo.
- Chamomile and fennel gels positively impacted sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women.

## 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.