Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of combined treatment with estrogen ointment and clindamycin phosphate vaginal gel on the vaginal flora and sexual quality of life in patients with vaginitis.Methods From June 2022 to June 2023, 100 vaginitis patients were enrolled from the Air Force Hospital of the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China. They were randomly divided into two groups: a monotherapy group (n =50) treated with clindamycin phosphate vaginal gel alone, and a combination therapy group (n =50) treated with both estrogen ointment and clindamycin phosphate vaginal gel. The study compared the changes in vaginal flora, microecology, sexual quality of life, inflammatory markers, and adverse reactions between the two groups before and after treatment.Results The differences in the counts of lactobacilli, mycoplasma, corynebacteria, Candida albicans, and enterobacteria were greater in the combined treatment group than in the single treatment group before and after treatment (P <0.05). After treatment, the combined group exhibited higher values for pH≤4.5, bacterial density (Ⅱ-Ⅲ), microbial diversity (Ⅱ-Ⅲ), and the predominance of lactobacilli compared to the single treatment group (P <0.05). The FSFI scores of both groups before treatment, and one and two months after treatment were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed that: (1) there were significant differences in FSFI scores across different time points (P <0.05); (2) there were significant differences in FSFI scores between the combined and single treatment groups (P <0.05), with the combined group having higher FSFI scores and relatively better sexual quality of life; (3) there was a significant difference in the trend of changes in FSFI scores between the two groups (P <0.05). The differences in CRP, IL-17, and IL-8 levels before and after treatment were greater in the combined treatment group than in the single treatment group (P <0.05). After treatment, the incidence of adverse effects was 8.0% in the combined group compared to 6.0% in the single treatment group, a difference that was not statistically significant (P >0.05).Conclusion The combination of estrogen ointment and clindamycin phosphate vaginal gel significantly impacts the vaginal flora and sexual quality of life in patients with vaginitis, offering a promising treatment approach.