Effect of honey on pain severity and episiotomy healing: A systematic review

Irani, Morvarid; Rahmanian, Seyyedeh Adeleh; Aradmehr, Maryam

Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2025) jmsthums 2025, 13(3): 93-109 | Back to browse issues page

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Irani M, Rahmanian S A, Aradmehr M. Effect of honey on pain severity and episiotomy healing: A systematic review. jmsthums 2025; 13 (3) :93-109
URL: http://jms.thums.ac.ir/article-1-1392-en.html

Effect of honey on pain severity and episiotomy healing: A systematic review

Morvarid Irani¹

, Seyyedeh Adeleh Rahmanian²

, Maryam Aradmehr¹

1- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
2- Department of Nursing, Shirvan Faculty of Nursing, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran

Abstract: (23 Views)

Background & Aim: Episiotomy, as a surgical procedure to enlarge the pelvic outlet, may cause complications such as pain and perineal injury. This study aimed to evaluate and analyze previous research on the effect of honey on pain severity and episiotomy wound healing through a systematic review of clinical trials.
Methods: In this systematic review (based on PRISMA guidelines), related studies were searched in authentic databases using the keywords episiotomy, honey, pain, wound healing, and perineum and their English equivalents, without language or time restrictions, until November 2024. The quality of clinical trials was assessed using the Haddad scale, and studies with a score of 3 or higher were included. Data were analyzed qualitatively.
Results: Out of 208 retrieved articles, seven eligible clinical trials were included. These studies, involving a total of 981 participants, investigated the effect of honey on pain severity and episiotomy wound healing. Among three studies assessing the effect of honey on episiotomy-related pain, only one reported a significant reduction in pain (p=0.001). However, among five studies evaluating wound healing, four found that honey had a positive effect on episiotomy wound healing (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Honey appears to promote episiotomy wound healing and may be more effective in enhancing wound recovery than in reducing pain severity. However, further well-designed studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Keywords: Honey, Episiotomy, Pain, Perineum, Wound Healing

Full-Text [PDF 359 kb] (43 Downloads)

Type of Study: Applicable | Subject: General
Received: 2025/01/16 | Accepted: 2025/06/1 | Published: 2025/11/17

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