title: Comparison of the Effects of Vaginal Royal Jelly and Vaginal Estrogen on Quality of Life, Sexual and Urinary Function in Postmenopausal Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several causes can disturb the quality of life in postmenopausal women. Stress, urinary incontinence is one of the factors that can influence the quality of life of women, since they evade social activities and limit their behavior. Vulvovaginal disorders adversely impacts sexual action, psychosocial health, and partner relationships.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the therapeutic properties of vaginal cream of royal jelly and estrogen on quality of life, sexual and urinary problems in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial that was done on 90 married postmenopausal women 50 to 65-year-old. A total of 90 women were randomly distributed to three groups and were treated with vaginal cream of royal jelly 15%, lubricant, and conjugated estrogens for three months. Before and after intervention, quality of life and vaginal cytology were evaluated. Data was analysed by SPSS 16 using ANOVA and Tukey tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results expressed that vaginal royal jelly is considerably more effective than conjugated estrogens and lubricant in the improvement of quality of life, sexual and urinary function in postmenopausal women (p<0.05). Results of Pap smear showed that improvement of vaginal atrophy in conjugated estrogens group was better than other groups (p<0.001), and there was no significant difference between lubricant and royal jelly groups (p=0.89).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of vaginal royal jelly in treatment of sexual and urinary problems of postmenopausal women is related to its estrogenic properties and could be suitable in promotion of life quality in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seyyedi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Researches, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafiean-Kopaei
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miraj
keywords: Conjugated estrogens; Menopause; Vulvovaginal atrophy