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Background:    Reports in the published literature indicate that fenugreek seeds possess significant medicinal effects. The present work was designed to determine the effect of fenugreek extracts on the reproductive system. Detailed vaginal cytology and estimation of serum level of steroidal hormones in female rats were performed to evaluate that effect.
    Material/Methods:    A total of 40 Norway albino female rats having regular estrous cycles were used for the study. The rats were divided into 4 equal groups; GI (control) and GII, GIII, GIV (study). GI rats were administered distilled water. GII rats were given crude crushed fenugreek seeds. GIII rats were given fenugreek oil. GIV rats were given diosgenin extract. All groups were treated for 14 days through an oro-gastric tube. Upon completion of treatment, blood was taken for hormonal assay, the animals were sacrificed and histological analysis of vaginal cytology was performed.
    Results:    From measuring the KPI of all experimental groups as compared to the control group, it was obvious that there is a hormonal- induced surface keratinization and hyperplasia of the vaginal epithelium similar to the changes occurring in hormonal therapy.
    Conclusions:    Vaginal smear is complementary to hormonal assay to identify ovulation and can supplement the other diagnostic procedures in follow-up of animal groups. However, vaginal cytology cannot confirm ovulation, but can identify levels of the hormones around the time of ovulation.

Keywords: contraceptive, Hormones, Fenugreek extract, vaginal cytology