MEDICINAL PLANTS AND HERBAL MEDICINES IN WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This article sought to identify and analyze Brazilian scientific publications on the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in women’s reproductive health. It is an integrative literature review conducted between July and October 2025 in the PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect and Virtual Health Library databases, using the descriptors “Medicinal Plants”, “Phytotherapy” and “Women’s Reproductive Health”. Articles published between 2020 and 2025 in English, Spanish or Portuguese were included. Six articles composed the final sample and were analyzed regarding their objectives, study design and results. The studies addressed species such as Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare and Vitex agnus-castus in the management of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, gynecological infections, climacteric and menopause, as well as risks during pregnancy. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and symptom relief were observed, but also risks of adverse reactions, drug interactions, embryotoxic effects and a lack of knowledge among health professionals. It is concluded that phytotherapy is an accessible and potentially effective alternative for women’s care throughout the life cycle; however, its use requires professional guidance, extract standardization and further clinical studies to confirm its efficacy and safety.