The effect of rose damascene extract on anxiety and sexual function of breastfeeding women: a randomized controlled trial

Gohar Akbarzadeh; Parvin Abedi; Shayesteh Jahanfar; Hossein Sadeghi Mansurkhani; Ahmad Fakhri; Elham Maraghi

doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1466341

The effect of rose damascene extract on anxiety and sexual function of breastfeeding women: a randomized controlled trial

Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Dec 5:11:1466341. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1466341. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Gohar Akbarzadeh¹, Parvin Abedi², Shayesteh Jahanfar³, Hossein Sadeghi Mansurkhani⁴, Ahmad Fakhri⁵, Elham Maraghi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Midwifery Department, Reproductive Health Promotion Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
² Midwifery Department, Menopause Andropause Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
³ Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
⁴ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
⁶ Department of Biostatistics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among breastfeeding women.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Rose damascene extract on sexual function and anxiety of breastfeeding women.

Materials and methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. This study was conducted on 87 breastfeeding women who received either Rose damascene (n = 44) or placebo (n = 43) for eight weeks. The primary outcomes were sexual function and anxiety. A demographic questionnaire, and obstetric questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Scale (FSFI), and the Spielberger questionnaire were used to collect the data. Chi-square test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data.

Results: In the intervention group, there was a significant increase in the scores of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction, while the score of pain reduced significantly after eight weeks of intervention (p < 0.001). The mean total score of sexual function prior to the intervention was 19.61 ± 5.02 and 21.46 ± 3.08 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. After intervention, this score was improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (25.21 ± 1.62 vs. 21.82 ± 3, p < 0.001). The pre-intervention score of trait anxiety was 47.97 ± 4.68 and 48.44 ± 5.89 in the intervention and control groups, respectively, which was improved in the intervention group compared to the control group after intervention (51.63 ± 3.53 vs. 48.13 ± 5.57, p < 0.001). Although there was an improvement in the score of state anxiety in the intervention group compared to the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (43.31 ± 6.41 vs. 44.30 ± 8.87, p = 0.397).

Conclusion: Rose damascene could significantly improve the sexual functions of breastfeeding women. It also decreased the trait anxiety but failed to improve the state anxiety significantly. Using this herb is recommended to enhance sexual performance in breastfeeding women.

Clinical trial registration: https://www.irct.ir/trial/61375, identifier IRCT20211015052775N1.

Keywords: breastfeeding; reproductive; sexual function; state anxiety; trait anxiety.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was financially supported by Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.