10 Potential Benefits of Cloves for Female Reproductive Health

Cloves are one of those spices that have sat in kitchen cupboards for centuries, largely revered for their warm, pungent aroma and their ability to flavor everything from mulled wine to biryanis. But at the same time, the cloves have been used for their therapeutic properties for ages in the traditional medicine systems of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. But modern research is now beginning to catch up.

Studies are linking the bioactive compounds in cloves, especially eugenol, quercetin, and gallic acid, to menstrual pain, hormonal balance, reproductive infection, and fertility in women. This is not a substitute for medical care, but it does make cloves worth knowing about properly.

Here’s the scoop from the science on the possible benefits of cloves for female reproductive health, with honest words on where the evidence is still evolving.

What Makes Cloves Relevant to Women's Health?

Cloves are dried flower buds from an evergreen tree, Syzygium aromaticum, which is native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. According to a 2025 in vitro study published in ACS Omega, eugenol is the main bioactive in them and accounts for around 70 to 90% of clove essential oil. Eugenol is a phenylpropanoid with known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial activities.

Besides eugenol, cloves also have the following:

• Gallic acid and quercetin (polyphenols with antioxidant activity)

• Beta-caryophyllene (a natural anti-inflammatory)

• Manganese (one of the richest sources in the diet)

• Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and dietary fiber

In 2023, a review of 76 studies on cloves and the reproductive system was published in the journal Reproductive Sciences, 32 of which examined female reproduction. The authors found evidence across multiple reproductive parameters, including sex hormone levels, fertility, and protection against reproductive-related malignancies.

Here are the top ten most evidence-backed areas.

10 Potential Benefits of Cloves for Female Reproductive Health

1. May Help Reduce Menstrual Pain

Dysmenorrhea, or painful periods, affects a large proportion of women and is largely driven by prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds that induce contractions of the uterus. In a March 2024 review of research, Healthline reported that eugenol in cloves blocks the same COX-2 enzyme pathway that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) target.

In a review article published in 2023, Nile Post referenced clinical research on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of eugenol, saying it is particularly helpful when menstrual cramps and discomfort are highest. The direction of the research is promising; although human trials in this specific area are still limited, the mechanism is well-established at the cellular level.

If you experience period pain every month, then adding culinary cloves to your diet during the first few days of your cycle may offer light complementary support but should not be used as a replacement for prescribed pain relief.

2. May Support Hormone Balance

Cloves contain phytochemicals such as eugenol and flavonoids that have demonstrated estrogenic effects in laboratory studies. In a 2024 study in Greener Journals, researchers found that cloves interact with parameters pertinent to hormone regulation, including estrogen-related pathways, when looking at the effects of clove extract on reproductive hormones in female rats.

February 2025: A more extensive review of spices and their effects on female fertility was published in The International Journal of Women’s Health and Wellness. It included clove in the list of spices that boost female fertility in a dose-dependent manner, along with cinnamon and turmeric.

It is thought that the mechanism is through the endocrine system, with cloves helping the liver function, which then affects the metabolism and clearance of hormones like estrogen from the body. While this indirect pathway can help a little for women with irregular cycles, PCOS, or perimenopausal symptoms, cloves are not a stand-alone hormonal treatment.

3. Shows Promise in PCOS Management

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age, and insulin resistance is a fundamental feature of its metabolic profile. In a 2023 animal study, published in PubMed (International Journal of Fertility and Sterility), eugenol was tested on PCOS-model rats at doses of 12 and 24 mg/kg for 28 days. Results showed that eugenol treatment improves the PCOS-associated endocrine and metabolic conditions mainly through its antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and anti-androgenic properties.

Another study in 2023 (PubMed listed) studied the effect of clove oil on PCOS-model rats. Low doses showed an improvement in oxidative stress, histological ovarian parameters, and insulin levels. Also, the LH/FSH ratio and testosterone levels, which are abnormal in PCOS, were decreased in treated groups compared to untreated PCOS animals.

These are animal studies, and human clinical trials are still needed. The results are interesting enough to warrant further research, and adding culinary cloves to a balanced diet is unlikely to cause harm in women with PCOS unless they are on diabetes medication (more on that in the safety section).

These are animal studies, and human clinical trials are still needed. The results are interesting enough to inform further research, and adding culinary cloves to a balanced diet is unlikely to cause harm in women with PCOS unless they are on diabetes medication (more on that in the safety section).

4. May Protect Against Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body and is thought to play a role in conditions ranging from endometriosis to age-related decline in reproductive capacity. Cloves are among the most antioxidant-rich foods ever tested. According to USDA FoodData Central data, their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value is approximately 290,000 µmol TE per 100 g, which is roughly 30 times higher than that of blueberries.

An in vitro study in ACS Omega 2025 showed that both eugenol and clove essential oil were effective in neutralizing free radicals, with about 80% DPPH radical scavenging activity at 25 µg/mL. The same study showed that treated macrophage cells were more than 70% viable under oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Women have ovarian oxidative stress associated with aging, poor-quality eggs, and endometriosis. Incorporating antioxidant-rich foods like cloves can be part of a broader protective strategy, but no one food is a cure.

5. Has Demonstrated Antifungal Activity Against Vaginal Candida

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (thrush) is a common and frequently recurrent problem in women of reproductive age. In 2020, a study was published in BMC Complementary Medicine by researchers at King Saud University. The study is included in PubMed. The researchers tested different Syzygium aromaticum extracts against three strains of Candida: C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis.

The ethyl acetate clove extract showed the highest antifungal activity with inhibition zone diameters of up to 30.7 mm against C. tropicalis. Results showed that the activity of clove extract was statistically similar to or higher than the antifungal standard terbinafine against C. glabrata and C. tropicalis.

Another 2024 preprint study on bioRxiv isolated bacteria and fungi from vaginal swab samples and tested clove extracts against them. Antimicrobial activity of eugenol was observed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates, such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Candida albicans.

This does not mean that clove oil should be used vaginally. Absolutely not. The study is relevant for laboratory extraction methods. However, it does support the idea that dietary consumption of cloves contributes to an anti-microbial and anti-fungal environment systemically.

6. May Support Blood Sugar Regulation, Relevant to Fertility

Hormonal imbalance, PCOS, and women’s fertility issues are strongly related to the dysregulation of blood sugar. A 2019 clinical study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine demonstrated blood-sugar-reducing effects of polyphenol-rich clove extract in healthy and pre-diabetic human subjects. The extract used was rich in eugenol, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, and quercetin.

A study published by Life Extension (reviewed October 2024) showed that liver-related benefits were seen in earlier studies of clove extracts, and the liver is an organ directly involved in insulin resistance. Research on animals has shown that nigericin, a compound from cloves, improves the ability of cells to absorb glucose from the blood.

If blood sugar imbalances are affecting a woman’s fertility or regularity of periods, adding cloves to meals may provide a small amount of complementary metabolic support. Anyone on insulin or diabetes medication should check with their GP first, as eugenol could have an unpredictable effect on blood sugar levels when mixed with medication.

7. Shows Potential for Supporting Fertility in Early Research

A study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology in 2022, from Nanjing Medical University’s State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, looked at the effects of a combination containing clove bud extract on female fertility in aged mice. This study demonstrated that the hydroethanolic extract of clove buds increased the blastocyst formation in cryopreserved oocytes. This is an early, but relevant, finding in the context of assisted reproduction.

In 2024, Greener Journals performed a study on female Wistar rats to observe the effect of clove extract on the levels of reproductive hormones and oxidative stress markers, both of which directly influence the outcome of fertility.

These studies are preliminary and were conducted in animal models. There are no human fertility studies at a large scale that have looked at cloves as a standalone intervention. What can be said responsibly is that the compounds in cloves affect several pathways, oxidative stress, hormonal modulation, and insulin sensitivity, all known to affect female fertility.

8. May Offer Mild Anti-Inflammatory Support for Endometriosis-Related Discomfort

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, and while no food will cure it, an anti-inflammatory diet is part of the management advice given by clinical teams. Cloves are one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents in the diet.

A study (2013, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy Research) listed in PubMed showed that clove and eugenol inhibited lipopolysaccharide-triggered inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages, exerting immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This mechanism involved suppression of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, a master regulator of the inflammatory response. The researchers concluded that the main responsible compound was Eugenol.

For women living with endometriosis, a practical and accessible step is to include anti-inflammatory foods, such as cloves, as part of a wider dietary pattern. It is not a replacement for gynecological treatment but may help reduce background inflammation alongside clinical care.

9. May Support Bone Health in Women Post-Menopause

Osteoporosis is a major problem for older women because of the loss of estrogen after menopause, which speeds up the loss of bone density. Cloves are one of the richest food sources of manganese, a mineral that the human body uses as a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and that plays a direct role in bone formation. Manganese: Cloves contain nearly 2 mg of manganese per 1 tbsp, according to USDA FoodData Central data, which is almost the entire daily adult requirement of 1.8 to 2.3 mg.

Eugenol: Animal research suggests eugenol may help prevent bone loss in osteoporosis (Healthline, March 2024), but human research is needed to confirm this effect. In 2020, an NIH-funded study showed that compounds of clove may help preserve bone density in laboratory settings.

Helping bones stay strong is a simple way to ensure women around or past menopause are getting enough manganese, and cloves are a concentrated, practical way to do that.

10. May Aid Digestive Comfort During Hormonal Phases

Hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during the premenstrual phase can cause digestive symptoms, such as bloating, cramping, and irregular bowel movements. Cloves have been proven to be carminative, helping to reduce the formation of gas and to increase the motility of the digestive system.

According to the review literature quoted by Continental Hospitals (February 2026), Eugenol has been reported to enhance the activity of digestive enzymes and reduce flatulence. So, consuming clove-infused tea around the time of menstruation might provide some mild relief from PMS-related digestive discomfort.

Why this is more than just comfort: chronic digestive inflammation can have knock-on effects on hormonal metabolism, especially through the gut-liver axis. By extension, supporting digestive health is a means of supporting hormonal health as well.

How to Include Cloves in Your Diet Safely

The benefits above are related to dietary and culinary use, not high-dose supplements or internal use of clove oil. 

A practical guide:

Culinary use: Add one or two whole cloves to rice dishes, soups, stews, or teas. You can add ground cloves to porridge, smoothies, and baked items. A sensible culinary amount is a quarter to a half teaspoon of ground cloves a day.

Clove tea: Steep 2 to 3 whole cloves in boiling water for five to 10 minutes. This is a well-known method used in traditional medicine systems.

What to avoid: Avoid oral consumption of concentrated clove oil without medical supervision. Do not use clove oil on mucous membranes, including the vagina. Both have risks of toxicity and irritation.

Important Safety Considerations

The US Food and Drug Administration classifies cloves as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at culinary doses. “Normal food amounts are safe for most adults.”

What to do next: If you want to use cloves for therapeutic purposes, check with your GP or gynecologist if you

• Take blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, or similar): eugenol affects platelet activity and may increase the risk of bleeding

• Control diabetes with insulin or glucose-lowering drugs: eugenol can lower blood sugar, and combining these effects may cause hypoglycemia.

• Are pregnant: There is limited evidence on the safety of cloves in large doses during pregnancy, and concentrated clove products should be avoided.

• Liver condition: There have been case reports of liver toxicity with high doses of eugenol.

The team at myGynaePlus, a specialist women's health clinic in West London, provides gynaecological and obstetric consultations to assess and manage conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, menstrual disorders, and fertility worries. If you are thinking about dietary interventions alongside conventional care, you can discuss this with a consultant gynecologist so that any changes can be made safely in a clinical setting.

What the Research Still Cannot Tell Us

Honestly, most research around cloves and female reproductive health is from animal studies and in vitro laboratory work. There are still no large-scale randomized controlled trials in women.

What the research does confirm quite definitively is that the bioactive compounds in cloves, especially eugenol, have real biological activity across pathways relevant to menstruation, hormonal balance, fertility, and inflammation. The direction of research is promising, and the consumption of dietary clove is in a safe and available range for most women.

Like all dietary approaches, cloves work best when they are part of a larger commitment to nutrition, movement, sleep, and appropriate medical care not as a standalone solution.Book Now!

FAQs About the Benefits of Cloves for Female Health

Q1: Can cloves help regulate irregular periods?

Cloves may have some indirect effects on irregular periods due to their anti-inflammatory properties and possible effects on hormonal metabolism through liver function. Initial research, mainly with animal models, suggests that eugenol and flavonoids in cloves may affect estrogen-related pathways. They are not a substitute for a medical workup for irregular cycles, which can have many causes.

Q2: Is it safe to drink clove tea every day?

In culinary doses, two to three whole cloves a day in clove tea are considered safe for most healthy women. Eugenol can interact with some conditions and medicines, so pregnant women, people taking blood-thinning medication, and those who manage diabetes with insulin should avoid it.

Q3: Can cloves help with PCOS symptoms?

Animal research published in PubMed shows that eugenol may improve oxidative stress, insulin levels, and hormone parameters in PCOS model rats. Human clinical trials are not yet available. Culinary cloves might be a reasonable dietary supplement to a treatment plan for women with PCOS, but they should always consult their gynecologist or GP before making any changes.

Q4: Do cloves have any effect on vaginal infections like thrush?

Laboratory studies have shown that clove extracts inhibit Candida strains that cause vaginal candidiasis. This is the biological activity of eugenol under controlled conditions, not topical application. Do not use clove oil vaginally. While dietary clove consumption may support general antimicrobial health, a diagnosed infection requires proper medical treatment.

Q5: How many cloves should a woman eat per day for health benefits?

Currently, no proven therapeutic dose of cloves for women's health is established. Using it as a spice (about one to two whole cloves or a quarter of a teaspoon of ground cloves each day) is generally safe and provides meaningful amounts of the compound eugenol along with manganese and antioxidants, without reaching levels that could be harmful. High-dose supplements are not advised without professional guidance.