Sharifpour Zahra, Hasanpoor Shirin, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi Sakineh, Mousavi Zahra, Shaseb Elnaz, Mirghafourvand Mojgan
Master student of Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
J Pharm Health Care Sci. 2025 Jun 18;11(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40780-025-00461-2.
Women often experience a decline in sexual desire as they age, particularly during menopause. An increase in sexual dysfunction is associated with the worsening of genitourinary symptoms that occur with menopause. Anxiety, fear, and depression in postmenopausal women may further deteriorate sexual dysfunction. Utilizing modern and effective methods to enhance sexual desire in these women is a priority in midwifery care. Given previous studies, ginseng is a herbal medicine that may be suitable in this regard. This study aimed to determine the effect of ginseng on sexual function (primary outcome), menopause symptoms, depression symptoms and side events (secondary outcomes) in postmenopausal women with major depression.
This triple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on postmenopausal women with major depression in Tabriz, Iran between December 2022 and March 2024. A total of 66 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 60 with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using block randomization. The intervention group received a 250-mg ginseng capsule twice daily after meals for eight weeks, while the control group received two gelatin placebo capsules (containing liquid edible paraffin) daily, similar in appearance to the ginseng capsules. Data collection was performed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Greene Climactric Scale (GCS). The independent t-test and ANCOVA were used for data analysis.
The two groups did not show statistically significant differences in terms of demographic and baseline outcome measures. After the intervention, the mean overall sexual function score in the ginseng group was significantly higher than in the control group (adjusted mean difference (AMD): 2.17; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.32 to 3.03, P = 0.001). The mean overall menopause symptoms score (AMD: -3.61; 95% CI: -5.47 to -1.74, P < 0.001) and depression score (AMD: -3.96; 95% CI: -5.76 to -2.20, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the ginseng group compared to the placebo group.
Ginseng is effective in improving sexual function and reducing menopause symptoms and depression in women with major depression. However, further research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N74. Date of registration: 10/12/2022; URL: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/user/trial/65711/view ; Date of first registration: 20/12/2022.
随着年龄增长，女性尤其是在绝经期间，性欲常常会下降。性功能障碍的增加与绝经时出现的泌尿生殖系统症状的恶化有关。绝经后女性的焦虑、恐惧和抑郁可能会进一步使性功能障碍恶化。采用现代有效方法增强这些女性的性欲是助产护理的一个重点。鉴于先前的研究，人参是一种在这方面可能适用的草药。本研究旨在确定人参对患有重度抑郁症的绝经后女性性功能（主要结局）、绝经症状、抑郁症状和不良事件（次要结局）的影响。
本三盲随机对照试验于2022年12月至2024年3月在伊朗大不里士对患有重度抑郁症的绝经后女性进行。总共66名年龄在45至60岁之间患有重度抑郁症的绝经后女性使用区组随机化方法被随机分配到干预组和对照组。干预组在饭后每天服用两次250毫克人参胶囊，持续八周，而对照组每天服用两粒外观与人参胶囊相似的明胶安慰剂胶囊（含有液体食用石蜡）。使用女性性功能指数（FSFI）、贝克抑郁量表（BDI）和格林更年期量表（GCS）进行数据收集。采用独立t检验和协方差分析进行数据分析。
两组在人口统计学和基线结局指标方面未显示出统计学上的显著差异。干预后，人参组的平均总体性功能得分显著高于对照组（调整后平均差异（AMD）：2.17；95%置信区间（95%CI）：1.32至3.03，P = 0.001）。与安慰剂组相比，人参组的平均总体绝经症状得分（AMD： -3.61；95%CI： -5.47至 -1.74，P < 0.001）和抑郁得分（AMD： -3.96；95%CI： -5.76至 -2.20，P < 0.001）显著更低。
人参对改善患有重度抑郁症女性的性功能、减轻绝经症状和抑郁有效。然而，需要进一步研究才能得出明确结论。
伊朗临床试验注册中心（IRCT）：IRCT20120718010324N74。注册日期：2022年12月10日；网址：https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/user/trial/65711/view ；首次注册日期：2022年12月20日。
