The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are frequent complaints among postmenopausal women. Studies have shown that isoflavones reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of isoflavones on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women. PubMed, ScienceDirec...

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Main Authors: Tri Hastono Setyo Hadi, Budi Santoso, Gatut Hardianto, Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2025-03-01
Series:Obstetrics & Gynecology Science
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Online Access:http://www.ogscience.org/upload/pdf/ogs-24282.pdf
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author Tri Hastono Setyo Hadi
Budi Santoso
Gatut Hardianto
Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati
author_facet Tri Hastono Setyo Hadi
Budi Santoso
Gatut Hardianto
Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati
author_sort Tri Hastono Setyo Hadi
collection DOAJ
description Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are frequent complaints among postmenopausal women. Studies have shown that isoflavones reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of isoflavones on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched until June 15, 2024. Revman 5.4 software (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used to analyze the data. Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs), totaling 675 participants, were included in the isoflavone treatment, and the duration was between 4 and 48 weeks. For the meta-analysis, four and two RCTs were conducted to analyze vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women before and after isoflavone treatment, respectively. The analysis results for vaginal dryness showed a significant change after isoflavone therapy, whereas those for dyspareunia did not show a significant change. The random-effects estimation of the mean difference was −1.29, and 95% confidence interval (CI) was −2.53 to −0.04 (P=0.04) for vaginal dryness, and −0.82, with a 95% CI of −3.51 to 1.87 (P=0.55) for dyspareunia. This meta-analysis concluded that isoflavones have a significant effect on relieving vaginal dryness but have no impact on dyspareunia in postmenopausal women. Numerous larger, long-term trials are needed to fully assess their effects and efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-7e6e1906cfb948d1ae01266a3d712a392025-08-20T03:08:00ZengKorean Society of Obstetrics and GynecologyObstetrics & Gynecology Science2287-85722287-85802025-03-0168213113810.5468/ogs.242828864The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysisTri Hastono Setyo Hadi0Budi Santoso1Gatut Hardianto2Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati3 Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, IndonesiaVaginal dryness and dyspareunia are frequent complaints among postmenopausal women. Studies have shown that isoflavones reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of isoflavones on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched until June 15, 2024. Revman 5.4 software (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used to analyze the data. Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs), totaling 675 participants, were included in the isoflavone treatment, and the duration was between 4 and 48 weeks. For the meta-analysis, four and two RCTs were conducted to analyze vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women before and after isoflavone treatment, respectively. The analysis results for vaginal dryness showed a significant change after isoflavone therapy, whereas those for dyspareunia did not show a significant change. The random-effects estimation of the mean difference was −1.29, and 95% confidence interval (CI) was −2.53 to −0.04 (P=0.04) for vaginal dryness, and −0.82, with a 95% CI of −3.51 to 1.87 (P=0.55) for dyspareunia. This meta-analysis concluded that isoflavones have a significant effect on relieving vaginal dryness but have no impact on dyspareunia in postmenopausal women. Numerous larger, long-term trials are needed to fully assess their effects and efficacy.http://www.ogscience.org/upload/pdf/ogs-24282.pdfisoflavoneflavonoidpostmenopauseatrophic vaginitisdyspareunia
spellingShingle Tri Hastono Setyo Hadi
Budi Santoso
Gatut Hardianto
Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati
The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Obstetrics & Gynecology Science
isoflavone
flavonoid
postmenopause
atrophic vaginitis
dyspareunia
title The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short The effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effect of isoflavone on vaginal dryness and dyspareunia in postmenopausal symptoms a systematic review and meta analysis
topic isoflavone
flavonoid
postmenopause
atrophic vaginitis
dyspareunia
url http://www.ogscience.org/upload/pdf/ogs-24282.pdf
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