A phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vaginal rings containing nomegestrol acetate or etonogestrel and 17β-estradiol in the treatment of women with primary dysmenorrhea

Assessing the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on menstrual health among women of reproductive age - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Contraceptive methods are well-established in their ability to prevent pregnancy and increase individual agency in childbearing. Evidence suggests that contraceptives can also be used to treat adverse conditions associated with menstruation, including abnormal and prolonged uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and premenstrual dysphoric disorders.This review investigates the effects of contraceptive techniques such as contraceptive pills, and long-acting reversible contraceptives (e.g. intrauterine devices, implants) on menstrual morbidity.

METHODS

Over ten databases with no geographical boundaries were searched from inception until October 2023. Study designs were one of the following types to be included: parallel or cluster randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, interrupted time series studies, cohort or longitudinal analyses, regression discontinuity designs, and case-control studies. Ten team members screened the papers in pairs with a Kappa score of more than 7, and Covidence was used. Conflicts were resolved by discussion, and the full papers were divided among the reviewers to extract the data from eligible studies.

RESULTS

Hormonal contraceptives are considered a well-tolerated, non-invasive, and clinically effective treatment for abnormal and prolonged uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and premenstrual dysphoric disorders. Our studies investigating quality of life or well-being in women with heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids have found improvements in all dimensions assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Hormonal contraceptives significantly reduce pain, symptom severity, and abnormal bleeding patterns associated with women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.

Evaluation of 28-day estradiol and progesterone vaginal rings in a phase 1 clinical pharmacokinetic study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work is to develop a combination of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in a single-dose intravaginal ring (IVR) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and genitourinary syndrome of menopause while providing endometrial protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate DARE-HRT1, a 28-day IVR that continuously delivers E2 and P4, in a phase 1 clinical trial to assess its pharmacokinetics.

METHODS

This was an open-label, three-arm (group) study. Thirty-two (32) healthy postmenopausal women were recruited at two Australian sites. The average age was 57.2 years (47-69 y). The first arm received one ring for 28 days designed to release E2 at a rate of 80 μg/d and P4 at 4 mg/d (80/4 IVR); the second arm received a ring releasing E2 at 160 μg/d and P4 at 8 mg/d (160/8 IVR). The third arm received oral Estrofem (1 mg E2) and Prometrium (100 mg P4) both daily for 29 days. Blood samples were taken predose then intensively over the first day (day 1) and periodically thereafter over the remaining 27 days. After removal of the rings on the morning of day 29, intensive samples were collected. Similar procedures were conducted with women enrolled in the oral group. The plasma samples were analyzed for E2, estrone (E1), and P4 using validated bioanalytical methods.

RESULTS

The baseline-adjusted steady-state plasma levels of E2 and P4 from 80/4 IVR were 20.4 ± 17.1 pg/mL and 1.32 ± 0.19 ng/mL (n = 10), respectively. The baseline-adjusted steady-state plasma levels of E2 and P4 from 160/8 IVR were 30.9 ± 8.7 pg/mL and 2.08 ± 0.50 ng/mL (n = 10), respectively. The baseline-adjusted average plasma concentrations of E2 and P4 at day 29 of the oral group were 35.4 ± 11.2 pg/mL and 0.79 ± 0.72 ng/mL (n = 11), respectively. The baseline-adjusted steady state of E1 from the 80/4 IVR and the 160/8 IVR were 22.1 ± 16.6 pg/mL (n = 10) and 25.2 ± 12.3 pg/mL (n = 10), respectively. The baseline-adjusted concentration of E1 in the oral arm was 209 ± 67.7 ng/mL (n = 11). The IVR were well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The 80/4 IVR and 160/8 IVR gave similar steady-state concentrations of E2 as seen with drug products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of VMS and genitourinary symptoms of menopause. The E2 concentrations of this study support the potential of DARE-HRT1, a promising new option for hormone therapy for treatment of VMS and vaginal symptoms associated with menopause.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Case-Control Study

There is limited information on myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and specific symptoms of chronic pelvic pain and, more specifically, dysmenorrhea. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients suffering from primary dysmenorrhea present alterations in mechanosensitivity and pain patterns, and greater presence of MTrPs in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. A case-control study was carried out with a total sample of 84 participants distributed based on primary dysmenorrhea and contraceptive treatment. The sample was divided into four groups each comprising 21 women. Data on pain, quality of life, and productivity and work absenteeism were collected; three assessments were made in different phases of the menstrual cycle, to report data on pressure pain threshold, MTrP presence, and referred pain areas. One-way ANOVA tests showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) between the groups, for the Physical Health domain and the total score of the SF-12 questionnaire, and for all the domains of the McGill questionnaire; but no significant differences were found in the data from the WPAI-GH questionnaire. Statistically significant data (p < 0.01) were found for mechanosensitivity in the abdominal area and limbs, but not for the lumbar assessment, within the group, with very few significant intergroup differences. The frequency of active MTrPs is higher in the groups of women with primary dysmenorrhea and during the menstrual phase, with the prevalence of myofascial trigger points of the iliococcygeus muscle being especially high in all examination groups (>50%) and higher than 70% in women with primary dysmenorrhea, in the menstrual phase, and the internal obturator muscle (100%) in the menstrual phase. Referred pain areas of the pelvic floor muscles increase in women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Multifactor Analysis and Intervention Study on Menstrual Disorders of Female Athletes in the Context of the Winter Olympic Games: A Case-Control Study Based on a Large Sample

A case-control study was conducted to explore the multifactor analysis and intervention of menstrual disorders in female athletes under the background of the Winter Olympic Games, which is based on a large sample. For this purpose, from January 2020 to September 2021, 381 female athletes in long-term ice and snow sports were investigated by random sampling. All of them promoted gynecological examination and counted the incidence of menstrual disorders. The subjects were assigned into two groups according to their menstrual status: abnormal (n = 163) and normal menstrual state groups (n = 218). The basic and clinical data of the two groups were compared, and univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to explore the risk factors of menstrual disorders in female athletes. According to the random number table method, the menstrual disorder group was again assigned into the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group received health education and glucose supplement intervention to correct EAMDs, while the control group only received health education. The improvement of patients' ability balance and the changes of reproductive hormones were compared after intervention. The results of univariate analysis indicated that there exhibited no significant differences in age, menarche age, smoking history, drinking history, grade, sexual life history, abortion history, BMI, and location of household registration, but there were significant differences in family history, sleep quality, diet regularity, and mental health status (P < 0.05). The results of univariate analysis indicated that there exhibited no significant differences in age, menarche, smoking, drinking, grade, sexual life history, abortion history, family history, sleep quality, diet regularity, and mental health status. Logistic regression analysis indicated that family history of menstrual disorders, poor sleep quality, irregular diet, and mental health status all affected women's menstrual disorders (OR: 1.411, 95% CI: 1.378∼1.444; OR: 1.501, 95% CI: 1.030∼2.187; OR: 1.554, 95% CI: 1.086∼2.225; OR: 1.383, 95% CI: 1.018∼1.877, respectively) independent risk factors. According to the comparison of menstrual cycle, in the intervention group, 12 patients had menstrual cycle 21–28 days, 12 patients had menstrual cycle 28–38 days, and 58 patients were irregular and had no amenorrhea, while in the control group, 36 patients had menstrual cycle 21–28 days, 24 patients had 28–38 days, 12 patients had amenorrhea, and 11 patients had irregular menstruation, and there exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05). There exhibited no significant difference in energy balance before and after intervention (P > 0.05); after intervention, the ability balance of the two groups was significantly promoted, and the degree of improvement in the study group was better (P < 0.05). The indexes of reproductive hormones in the follicular phase were compared before and after glucose supplement intervention, and there exhibited no significant difference before intervention (P > 0.05); after intervention, the serum LH and GnRH of the two groups decreased, while FSH and P increased. The improvement degree of the intervention group was better than that of the control group, but there exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in the serum E2 level in the follicular phase (P > 0.05); after the intervention, the serum E2 of the two groups increased significantly, and the improvement of the intervention group was better (P < 0.05). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in the serum E2 level in the follicular phase (P > 0.05); after the intervention, the serum E2 of the two groups increased significantly, and the improvement of the intervention group was better (P < 0.05). Before intervention, there exhibited no significant difference in serum E2 and P levels in the luteal phase (P > 0.05); after intervention, the level of serum E2 decreased and the level of serum P increased in the two groups. There exhibited no significant difference in the level of serum E2 (P > 0.05). There exhibited significant difference in the serum P level (P < 0.05). Female athletes have a high rate of menstrual disorders. Family history of menstrual disorders, poor sleep quality, irregular diet, and poor mental health are the main risk factors of menstrual disorders. Health education and sugar supplement intervention measures for female athletes play a positive role in the improvement of their ability balance and the regulation of reproductive hormones.