Moussa A, Moberg KU, Elgrahy I, Elsayied M, Abdel-Rasheed M, Farouk M, Saad H, Meshaal H. Effect of topical oxytocin gel on vaginal mucosa in postmenopausal Egyptian women: a clinical randomized trial.
J Sex Med 2023;
20:177-183. [PMID:
36763919 DOI:
10.1093/jsxmed/qdac021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Vaginal atrophy is common after menopause and is often linked to sexual dysfunction, particularly dyspareunia.
AIM
The study aimed to investigate the effect of intravaginally applied oxytocin on expressions of vaginal atrophy.
METHODS
Fifty postmenopausal women aged 47 to 66 years with vaginal atrophy participated in this double-blinded placebo-controlled study. The women were randomized to intravaginal treatment with either gel with 600 IU/mL of oxytocin (oxytocin group) or gel alone (control group) once daily for 2 weeks. The gel consisted of hypromellose, pH 3.8 (Vagovital).
OUTCOMES
The color of the vaginal mucosa, the vaginal pH, and the cytology of vaginal epithelial cells were investigated before and after treatment.
RESULTS
The color of the vaginal mucosa shifted from pale to red in all 25 patients treated with oxytocin but only in 4 patients in the control group (P < .001). There was a significant decrease in intravaginal pH in the oxytocin group and the control group, with the delta value being significantly greater in the oxytocin group than in the control group (P < .001). The vaginal maturation index increased significantly (P < .001) in the oxytocin group but not in the control group.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Topical oxytocin gel offers an effective solution to the sexual dysfunction that is related to vaginal atrophy after menopause.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
Strengths include studying different outcomes of applying the oxytocin gel for vaginal atrophy. Limitations include the small-scale population with a relatively short duration of treatment (2 weeks).
CONCLUSION
Intravaginal treatment with a gel containing 600 IU/mL of oxytocin effectively counteracts physical expressions of vaginal atrophy.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05275270; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05275270).
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