Changes in Clinical Indicators of Pathological Vaginal Discharge Following Basil (Ocimum Sanctum L.) Leaf Decoction Among Intrauterine Device Users

Background: Pathological vaginal discharge is a common reproductive health concern among intrauterine device (IUD) users. Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) contains bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; however, clinical evidence regarding basil leaf decoction for pathological vaginal discharge among IUD users remains limited. This study aimed to assess changes in clinical indicators of pathological vaginal discharge following basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) leaf decoction among IUD users. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest study was conducted among 30 IUD users recruited through total sampling at an independent midwifery practice in Padang, Indonesia. Eligible participants were women aged 20–45 years who had used an IUD for at least six months and experienced symptoms of pathological vaginal discharge; women who were pregnant, had recently used antibiotic or antifungal therapy, had reproductive organ cancer or severe systemic disease, or withdrew from the study were excluded. Participants received 150 mL of basil leaf decoction twice daily for three consecutive days. Clinical indicators of pathological vaginal discharge were assessed before and after the intervention using a researcher-developed structured observation instrument. Pretest–posttest differences were analyzed using a two-tailed paired t-test at α = 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Universitas Alifah Padang (No. 004691/KEP Universitas Alifah Padang/2025). Results: Most participants were aged 26–30 years (40.0%), were housewives (53.3%), and had used an IUD for 6–12 months (40.0%). Before the intervention, 56.7% of participants had moderate pathological vaginal discharge, whereas after the intervention, 66.7% were classified as having no pathological vaginal discharge. The mean clinical indicator score of pathological vaginal discharge increased from 6.50 ± 1.144 at pretest to 8.41 ± 0.796 at posttest, representing a mean increase of 1.91 points (95% CI: 1.60–2.22). The paired t-test showed a statistically significant pretest–posttest difference (t(29) = 12.54, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen's dz = 2.29). Conclusion: Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) leaf decoction was associated with improvement in clinical indicators of pathological vaginal discharge among IUD users following the three-day intervention. The preliminary findings support further investigation of basil leaf decoction as a potential complementary approach within reproductive healthcare. Larger controlled studies using standardized diagnostic assessments, microbiological outcomes, and longer follow-up are needed to establish its clinical effects and safety.