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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of fennel on sexual function in postmenopausal women. It was a randomized controlled trial in 60 postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction who were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either fennel vaginal cream (n=30) or placebo (n=30). Vaginal atrophy in the women was assessed using symptoms such as pallor, dryness, dyspareunia, itching and burning. The pH of the vagina and cytology of the vaginal mucosa were also measured at baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention. All participants were requested to fill out the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at baseline and after 8 weeks. The intervention group was requested to use fennel vaginal cream (5 grams) every night, while the control group used placebo each night for 8 weeks. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. All areas of sexual function including arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction and pain improved in both fennel and placebo groups after 8 weeks; however, the differences in the fennel group were more evident (p<0.05). The total FSFI score was significantly higher in the fennel group compared to the control group (8.2 ±9.4 and 8.03±10.36 before the intervention and changing to 33.79±0.7 and 18.99±1.09 after the intervention in the fennel and placebo groups, respectively; p<0.001). Discussion: According to our results, fennel vaginal cream is an effective means of improving sexual activity in postmenopausal women. The use of this product in women who have sexual dysfunction and contraindications for hormone therapy is recommended.

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Background: Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is known to have antimicrobial and antifungal effects in vitro. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of extracts derived from green-husked walnut with clotrimazole against Candida albicans in female rats. Methods: In this study, 35 female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups. A total of 4 groups of rats were infected vaginally with C. albicans and 1 group was not infected (negative control). The 4 infected groups received the following treatments: 2 groups received vaginal creams containing 2% or 4% of J. nigra extracts, respectively, 1 group received 1% clotrimazole, and 1 group did not receive any treatment (positive control). All rats received treatments for 2 weeks.

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Background: The most vulnerable time to develop mood disorders such as sadness, depression, and psychosis is the postpartum period. Postpartum blues is the most common mood disorder and can endanger the relationships between mother, child and family, and in case of lack of appropriate treatment can cause irreparable damages.

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Background Vaginal birth management is vital to midwifery education and practice in which midwives are most likely to be directly involved. This situation requires strong cognitive, technical, communicational, and teamwork skills. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of normal vaginal birth simulation training before formal clinical education on the clinical skills of midwifery students compared with routine clinical education. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences from September 2018 to August 2021. Sixty-one midwifery students participated in the intervention group (n = 31) and in the control group (n = 30). The intervention group participated in the simulation-based training before entering the formal clinical education courses. The control group received no simulation-based training before their formal clinical education. The clinical skills of these students for performing normal vaginal birth in the real field were evaluated by observational examination in the three years (fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters). Data were analyzed by descriptive (mean, SD, and percentage) and inferential statistics (independent t-test and chi-square). A P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean score of midwives’ skills in the control group was (28.10 ± 3.42) and in the intervention group, it was (31.15 ± 4.30). The difference in the skill score between the groups was statistically significant (3.40 ± 0.68). The results showed that in the intervention group, 29 students (93.93%) were evaluated from a good to an excellent level, while only ten students (32.71%) in the control group achieved a good level, and others (n = 30) were evaluated at a low level (p < .001). Conclusion The results of the present study indicated that the simulation situation for critical skills, such as vaginal birth skills, was significantly more effective than workplace-based learning situations.