Vaginal infections Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

PURPOSE: to test the efficacy of and tolerance to Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi gel in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: forty-eight women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis (according to Amsel's criteria) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi gel (25 cases) with placebo (23 cases). The main outcome parameters were: rate of cure, presence of lactobacilli in Pap smear after treatment and side effects. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi2 and the Fisher exact test at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: using Amsel's clinical parameters of bacterial vaginosis, the cure rate was 84% in the Schinus group and 47.8% in the placebo group (p=0.008). A significant increase in the frequency of lactobacilli was observed in the Pap smear of the group treated with Schinus (43.5%) compared to the patient group (4.3%) (p=0.002). Treatment-related adverse events were not frequent in either group. CONCLUSIOS: the present study indicates that Schinus vaginal gel is effective and safe in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. In addition, potential beneficial effects on the vaginal flora are suggested.