Bee-Honey and Yogurt: A Novel Mixture for Treating Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis during Pregnancy
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the clinical and mycological cure rates of a novel mixture consisting of Bee-honey and yogurt compared to local antifungal agents for treating patients with vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (VVC) during pregnancy.Materials and methods This is a prospective comparative study which included 129 patients with VVC during pregnancy. The participants were allocated into study group (n = 82) who received a mixture of Bee-honey and yogurt vaginally and control group (n = 47) who received local anti-fungal agents. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the clinical and mycological cure rates and the side-effects of both modes of therapy.Results The clinical cure rate was significantly higher in the study than the control group (87.8 vs. 72.3%, respectively) while the mycological cure rate was higher in the control than the study group (91.5 vs. 76.9%, respectively). Both types of therapy were favorably tolerated by most of the patients. Side effects were reported only in 24.3 and 29.7% of patients in group I and II, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusions The mixture of Bee-honey and yogurt produced a high clinical cure rate and a reasonable mycological cure rate. It can be used as a complementary or an alternative to antifungal agents especially in patients with VVC during pregnancy.
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In a study of 129 pregnant women with VVC, a vaginal mixture of bee honey and yogurt produced greater clinical improvement in itching, discharge, and vulvovaginal redness than vaginal tioconazole 100 mg.
“Interestingly, among the patients in the first group, the authors noticed a greater clinical improvement in terms of itching, discharge, and vulvovaginal redness.”
From Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis—An Overview of Guidelines and the Latest Treatment Methods (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
The use of bee honey and yogurt mixture or redcore balm resulted in a significant reduction in symptoms in pregnant patients with VVC.
“The use of these products resulted in a significant reduction in symptoms in pregnant patients with VVC [73,74].”
From Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis—An Overview of Guidelines and the Latest Treatment Methods (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
In the same study, the bee honey and yogurt mixture resulted in a significantly lower incidence of treatment-related local irritation than tioconazole.
“Additionally, the application of this natural mixture resulted in a significantly lower incidence of reported treatment-related symptoms in the form of local irritation.”
From Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis—An Overview of Guidelines and the Latest Treatment Methods (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
The results of the bee honey and yogurt study indicate the possibility of applying natural-derived substances locally in VVC treatment.
“Thus, the results of this study indicate the possibility of the application of natural-derived substances locally in VVC treatment [73].”
From Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis—An Overview of Guidelines and the Latest Treatment Methods (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
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- Authors
- Abdelmonem, A. M., Rasheed, S. M., & Mohamed, A. S.
- Affiliations
- Sohag University (EG)
- Corresponding author
- Abdelmonem, Allam M.
- Venue
- Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Published
- 2012-02-08
- Volume
- 286
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 109-114
- ISSN
- 0003-9128 (ISSN-L)
- 0932-0067
- 1432-0711
- OpenAlex
- W2063638369
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- expression_of_concern (2026-07-15)
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Keywords
- vaginal candidiasis, pregnancy, honey, yogurt, vaginal candidiasis treatment, clinical cure rate, mycological cure rate, complementary therapy, complementary and alternative medicine
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intravaginal, Adult, Animals, Bees, Candida, Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal, Female, Honey, Humans, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Yogurt, Treatment Outcome
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