Effect of Salvia officinalis scent on postmenopausal women's sexual function and satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial.

The short version

This double-blind randomized controlled trial with 54 analysed postmenopausal women explored whether breathing in sage essential oil could improve sexual function and satisfaction after menopause. Sexual problems are common after menopause, and because hormone therapy has side effects, researchers have looked at gentler options such as aromatherapy, the use of plant scents. Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a herb, and the authors say this was the first trial to test its scent for this purpose. The women were recruited through four health centers in Kermanshah, Iran, and all scored at or below 28 on the Female Sexual Function Index, the cut-off for sexual dysfunction. Women aged 45 to 60 were randomly assigned to sage or a comparison oil, without knowing which. Twice a day, five days a week, for six weeks, they placed two drops of either 10% sage essential oil or plain almond oil on a forearm and breathed in the scent for five minutes. Researchers phoned weekly to check use and side effects. Sexual function and satisfaction were scored with two questionnaires before the study and after six weeks. The sage group scored far higher at the end. Average sexual function on the Female Sexual Function Index was 28.28 with sage compared with 17.90 with almond oil (p < 0.001), a gap of more than ten points on a scale that runs from 2 to 36. Every area measured, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain, was higher with sage. Sexual satisfaction averaged 71.53 versus 50.44 on a scale where higher is better (p < 0.001). The almond oil group showed no meaningful change from its starting scores, either in sexual function (p = 0.19) or in satisfaction (p = 0.18). No significant adverse effects were reported for sage compared with the control group. One reported average in the abstract (28.8) differs slightly from the results table (28.28). The authors suggest sage aromatherapy may help postmenopausal sexual problems. Several limitations apply. Participants may have inhaled different doses despite training, all results came from self-reported questionnaires, only six weeks of effects were studied, and ten of the 64 women who started were excluded afterwards. The causes and length of each woman's sexual difficulties were not assessed. The findings come from married, otherwise healthy women in one Iranian city and do not extend to other groups.

Key findings

• In this double-blind trial, 64 postmenopausal women in Kermanshah, Iran, were randomized to inhale 10% Salvia officinalis (sage) essential oil or odorless almond oil twice a day, five days a week, for six weeks; 54 were analysed.
• Total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI, a 19-item questionnaire scored 2 to 36) was 28.28 with sage versus 17.90 with almond oil after six weeks (p < 0.001), and all six domains, including desire, arousal and pain, were higher with sage.
• Sexual satisfaction (a 17-item questionnaire scored 17 to 85) was 71.53 with sage versus 50.44 with control (p < 0.001), while the control group did not change from baseline.
• No significant adverse effects were reported for sage compared with control.
• The authors note possible differences in dose actually inhaled, self-reported outcomes, short follow-up and 10 post-randomization exclusions, and the abstract and results tables differ slightly on some figures.

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