Aromatherapy for Sexual Problems in Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is the exploration of the potential evidence of the effectiveness of aromatherapy products on the sexual function of menopausal women. METHODS: From inception to December 2017, the search process was performed using the MEDLINE and Scopus databases and the Cochrane Library regarding the trials on the effectiveness of herbal-medicine aromatherapy on the sexual function of menopausal women. RESULTS: Three of the trials comprise suitable data for inclusion in the meta-analysis. According to the meta-analysis, it is possible to improve the standardized mean difference (SMD) of the sexual desire up to 0.56 in the aromatherapy group compared with the control group (SMD = 0.56; P < 0.001; heterogeneity; I² = 42%; P = 0.141). According to one of the trials, the serum-estrogen level of two different doses did not change in the neroli oil inhalation group compared with the almond-oil group. CONCLUSIONS: Both aromatherapy with neroli oil or lavender (monopreparation) and combined-oil aromatherapy with lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose significantly improved human sexual function; however, a significant change of the serum-estrogen level was not detected. The findings of the present review should be presented cautiously because of the corresponding limitations such as the lack of a standardized tool, the lack of intention-to-treat reporting, the low study amount, and the short-term follow-up.

Comparing diagnostic accuracy of purple line with transverse diagonal of michaelis sacral to predict labor progress in nulliparous and multiparous women

One of the key aspects of maternal care is observing labor progress. Careful assessment of labor progress could provide mothers to be referred on time and could minimize the maternal and neonatal morbidity. This study aimed to compare diagnostic accuracy of purple line with transverse diagonal of Michaelis sacral rhomboid to predict labor progress in nulliparous and multiparous women who referred to Om-ol-banin Hospital, Mashhad, Iran from April to August 2012. In this double-blind diagnostic accuracy study, 350 nulliparous and multiparous women with a single pregnancy in vertex presentation and gestational age of 38-42 week who admitted in state hospitals of Mashhad were selected using convenience sampling. The transverse diagonal of the Michaelis sacral rhomboid area was measured in cervical dilatation of /= 98.5 millimeter was accompanied with normal labor progress with 86.5% sensitivity, 59.45% specificity and 79.65% validity. Transverse diagonal of the Michaelis sacral is better predictor for observing labor progress in comparison with purple line