Vulvar vestibular effects of ospemifene: a pilot study.

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the effects of ospemifene on vulvar vestibule in postmenopausal women with vulvar pain and dyspareunia. Fifty-five postmenopausal women used oral ospemifene 60 mg/d for 60 d. Symptoms of dryness, burning, and dyspareunia were evaluated on a 10 cm visual analog scale. Visual examination of the vulvar vestibule was also conducted. Patients also underwent current perception threshold (CPT) testing obtained from the vulvar vestibule. Fifty-five patients (94.6%) completed the treatment. Hot flashes were the most frequent adverse effects, but this led to a discontinuation of therapy in three patients (5.4%). After therapy, there was a statistically significant decrease from the baseline in the mean scores for dryness, burning, and dyspareunia and reduction of vestibular trophic score (baseline value of 11.2-4.2 after the therapy, p ≤ 002) and cotton swab test scores (2.81 compared with 1.25, p = .001). There was a difference in CPT values for all nerve fibers and more consistent for C fibers (-38% of sensitivity). These results confirm the efficacy of ospemifene on postmenopausal vestibular symptoms and signs; moreover, the drug was effective in normalizing vestibular innervation sensitivity.

• Authors: Filippo Murina, Stefania Di Francesco, Silvia Oneda
• Journal: Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (Gynecol Endocrinol) Vol. 34 Issue 7 Pg. 631-635 (Jul 2018) ISSN: 1473-0766 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29334798 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Tamoxifen
• Ospemifene

Topics

• Administration, Buccal
• Dyspareunia (complications, drug therapy, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Electric Stimulation
• Female
• Hot Flashes (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement (methods)
• Pain Perception (drug effects)
• Pilot Projects
• Postmenopause (drug effects, physiology)
• Syndrome
• Tamoxifen (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Vulva (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Vulvar Vestibulitis (complications, drug therapy, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Vulvodynia (complications, drug therapy, epidemiology, physiopathology)