Efficacy of a Vaginal Cream from Cymbopogon citratus Oil in Patients with Endometrioma: a Single-Arm Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background and objective: Endometriosis is a common and complex gynecological condition. (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (lemongrass) has been mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine references for uterus disorders. This study aimed to assess the effects of a lemongrass oil vaginal cream on pain levels, mass size, and overall health profiles in endometriosis patients. Methods: In this single-arm, before-and-after clinical trial, participants with endometrial cysts larger than 2 cm and experiencing dysmenorrhea were treated with lemongrass oil vaginal cream for two months. Their pain and health status were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30) before and after the treatment. Transvaginal ultrasounds were also performed to measure the size of the cysts before and after the intervention. Results: The intervention led to a significant reduction in pain scores (p<0.001). Additionally, 8 out of 11 domains of the EHP-30 questionnaire showed significant improvement. The average size of endometriomas decreased from 39.9 mm to 31.3 mm (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study indicated that lemongrass oil vaginal cream could alleviate pain in endometriosis patients, enhance their overall health and reduce the size of endometrioma. However, rigorous clinical trials with randomized designs and control groups are necessary to validate these results.

Keywords

• cymbopogon citratus
• dysmenorrhea
• endometrioma
• pelvic pain
• persian medicine