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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: During vaginal delivery, the perineum can be damaged either by episiotomy or by a spontaneous perineal tear, leading to several complications. The wound healing process should proceed as quickly and properly as possible without an infection. Medical grade honey (MGH) may be a potent treatment option due to its antimicrobial and pro-healing activities. This literature study investigated the role of honey in the treatment of vaginal wounds after delivery. Methods: Studies published before 17 July 2024 in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO host/CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases about honey, episiotomy wounds, and perineal tears, as well as those investigating wound healing and/or pain, were assessed. Results: Ten studies were included (six RCTs, of which three were double-blind, one was quasi-experimental with a posttest only, and three were observational studies without a control group), with 723 participants in total. Six of the seven controlled studies showed honey significantly improved various outcome measures, such as improved wound healing, and reduced need for pain medication. The three non-controlled studies also had a positive outcome, improving wound healing and decreasing pain intensity and prickling sensation. However, the overall quality of available evidence is limited. Different types of honey concentrations, origins, and additives were used in the included studies. Using a standardized MGH formulation may help to maintain consistent and potent effects. Therefore, additional research is needed to determine the efficacy of MGH in perineal trauma and to establish guidelines for clinical use. Conclusions: Honey potentially has a great effect on wound healing of perineal trauma; however, more research is necessary to substantiate the findings in the current literature.

Details

Title
The Efficacy of Honey for the Treatment of Perineal Wounds Following Vaginal Birth: A Narrative Review
Author
Schaap, Isa S 1 ; Céline M J G Lardenoije 1 ; Senna J J M van Riel 2 ; Cremers, Niels A J 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; [email protected] (I.S.S.); [email protected] (C.M.J.G.L.); [email protected] (S.J.J.M.v.R.) 
 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; [email protected] (I.S.S.); [email protected] (C.M.J.G.L.); [email protected] (S.J.J.M.v.R.); VieCuri Medical Centre, Tegelseweg 210, 5912 BL Venlo, The Netherlands; GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands 
 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; [email protected] (I.S.S.); [email protected] (C.M.J.G.L.); [email protected] (S.J.J.M.v.R.); Triticum Exploitatie BV, Sleperweg 44, 6222 NK Maastricht, The Netherlands 
First page
182
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
14248247
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3171193424
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.