Crocus sativus L. (saffron) for treatment sexual dysfunction in women at reproductive ages

Authors: Fatemeh Rahimi Kian, Mandana Mirmohamad Ali, Masume Rahmati, Abbas Mehran,Saied goodarzi

Abstract
Background: Saffron (crocus sativus L.) has shown many effects in recent studies, including in the field of sexual function . The purpose of this study was to compare sexual function in women at reproductive ages, before and after oral administration  of saffron extract .

                                                             
Methods : This clinical trial was a double-blind and placebo -controlled study. The Statistical population of the research consisted of all married women at 18-39 years old ,who were referred to health centers of Arak University of Medical Sciences, that among them, 80 volunteer women with sexual dysfunction and eligible for the study, and they received 30mg/daily of the saffron extract or placebo for 8 weeks. Measuring Tool in the study was Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) , which at the beginning of the study , the fourth and eighth weeks, investigated sexual function in women. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests .

Results: 69 womens (35 cases in saffron group and 34 cases in placebo group) have successfully completed the study .At the end of the fourth week improvement in total FSFI and its domains, compared with the control group was not significant . At the end of the eighth week in the intervention group than the control group, a significant improvement in sexual function total score (P = 0.001) , and its domains include  desire (P = 0.001), excitement (P = 0.001), lubrication (P = 0.001), orgasm (P = 0.002) and sexual satisfaction (P = 0.001) was observed , but this increase was not significant in ​​Dyspareunia (P = 0.079). Any serious adverse event was not reported during the study .

Conclusions: The results indicate that saffron could be effective on women's sexual functioning and its various domains ( including desire , excitement , lubrication , orgasm and sexual satisfaction ) except Dyspareunia .                                        
Keywords: women's sexual function , saffron extract , reproductive age