title: Comparing the therapeutic effects of garlic tablet and oral metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common gynecological infections during reproductive age. Although metronidazole is one of the most effective medications recommended as the first-line treatment, it has various side effects. Because of the side effects and contraindications of some chemical medicines, using herbs has been investigated in treating BV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of garlic tablet (Garsin) and oral metronidazole in clinical treatment of the BV in women referred to Resalat Health Center, affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, in 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 120 married women aged 18 to 44 years who were diagnosed with BV by Amsel's clinical criteria and Gram staining. Enrolled women were randomly allocated to two groups of 60 patients and were treated with either garlic tablet or oral metronidazole for seven days. Amsel's criteria and Gram stain were assessed seven to ten days after beginning the treatment period and side effects were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amsel's criteria were significantly decreased after treatment with garlic or metronidazole (70% and 48.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Therapeutic effects of garlic on BV were similar to that of metronidazole (63.3% and 48.3%, respectively; P = 0.141). There were significant differences between the two treatment groups in terms of side effects; metronidazole was associated with more complications (P = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals that garlic could be a suitable alternative for metronidazole in treatment of BV in those interested in herbal medicines or those affected by side effects of metronidazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, International Branch, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahrokh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolatian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoome
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorjani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alavi Majd
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borumandnia
keywords: Bacterial; Garlic; Metronidazole; Vaginosis