Abstract

Background: Vaginal discharge is a common clinical presentation of vulvovaginal and cervical disorders. Because vaginal discharge may result from infectious as well as non-infectious causes, clinical examination and appropriate laboratory evaluation are important for establishing the underlying etiology.

Objective: To evaluate the preliminary therapeutic response and reported adverse effects of a Unani herbal vaginal tablet in women presenting with excessive vaginal discharge associated with vaginitis, with or without cervicitis.

Methods: This pilot clinical study was conducted at Majeedia Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. Women presenting with excessive vaginal discharge, with or without associated vaginitis and cervicitis, were clinically assessed. Evaluation included visual examination of vaginal discharge and per-speculum and per-vaginal examination of the vagina and cervix. Associated symptoms, including backache, lower abdominal pain, itching and dyspareunia, were recorded during follow-up. Twelve women who received the Unani herbal vaginal tablet once daily at night for 12 days constituted the available treatment dataset. Treatment was withheld during menstruation and vaginal bleeding. Therapeutic response was categorized as complete relief, partial relief or no relief.

Results: Of the 12 treated participants, 9 (75.0%) experienced complete relief, 1 (8.3%) experienced partial relief and 2 (16.7%) reported no relief. Thus, 10 of 12 participants (83.3%) demonstrated either complete or partial improvement. No dropout was recorded in the available dataset. Historical records mentioned headache increased vaginal discharge among reported adverse effects; however, attribution of these events specifically to the vaginal-tablet-only treatment could not be established from the available records.

Conclusion: The available pilot data suggest a possible therapeutic effect of the Unani herbal vaginal tablet in women presenting with vaginal discharge associated with vaginitis. However, the small sample size, absence of a control group, lack of standardized etiological diagnosis and incomplete adverse-event attribution preclude definitive conclusions regarding efficacy and safety. A prospective controlled clinical trial using standardized diagnostic criteria and validated outcome measures is warranted.

Keywords: Unani medicine; vaginal tablet; vaginal discharge; vaginitis; cervicitis; herbal formulation; pilot clinical study; therapeutic response