The Effect of Hypericum Perforatum Vaginal Gel in Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis

Hypericum perforatum is one of the most commonly used herbal drugs which is traditionally used in many cases including treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Although in-vitro studies indicate a strong antibacterial activity of Hypericum perforatum، no study was found regarding its effects on bacterial infections in human. Therefore، this study was done to determine the effect of hypericum perforatum vaginal gel in treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

This pre- and post-test single group interventional study was conducted on 82 married women with bacterial vaginosis who were not suffered from other vaginal infections and referred to Jolfa and Hadishahr cities of Azarbayjan Sharghi، Iran، during March 2012 to November 2012. They got 5 gr of hypericum perforatum vaginal gel 3% daily for 5 days. Participants were evaluated before and 10-12 days after starting the treatment and patient complaints، clinical signs and Amsel criteria were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13 and McNemar test. P value less than 0. 05 was considered significant.

67 participants (82%) were cured 10-12 days after treatment. The most common complaints of participants at baseline were malodorous discharge (94%)، vaginal burning during couitus (45%)، vaginal itching (40%) and lower abdominal pain (35%). 10-12 days after treatment، frequency of the complaints were reduced to 4%، 8%، 5% and 11%، respectively (p<0. 001). 11 women (13%) had reported experience of mild vaginal burning that had not resulted in cessation of drug use.

Hypericum perforatum vaginal gel has high efficacy in treatment of bacterial vaginosis، reduction in patients complaints and improvement of the Amsel criteria and can use as an alternative treatment in drug resistance and herbal treatment.