Essential oils used for vaginal infections: A review

This comprehensive review examines the intersection between aromatherapeutic recommendations for the use of essential oils in the treatment of vaginal infections and the scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. The review provides an analysis of the effects of essential oils and their combinations on key vaginal pathogens, their role in biofilm disruption, and their impact on the microbial colonizers of the vaginal tract. Notably, many pathogens remain understudied within the context of the three most common vaginal infections: bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. The data analysis revealed that only 14% of essential oils have been investigated across all three infections, as most studies (70%) focus on bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis. The study of essential oil combinations was challenging largely due to the reliance on common names in aromatherapeutic sources, which often lack botanical specificity. Preliminary studies demonstrated promising antibiofilm activity, though the limited number of studies presents a challenge for drawing definitive conclusions. Several essential oils demonstrated a capacity to preserve beneficial Lactobacillus species, integral to vaginal health, but there is a significant gap in research regarding their effects on the full spectrum of vaginal microbial colonizers. These findings highlight the scarcity of selectivity-focused essential oil studies and supports the rationale for investigating synergistic, microbiota-sparing essential oil combinations.