Effects of oxytocin versus promestriene on genitourinary syndrome: a pilot, prospective, randomized, double-blind study

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 77; p. 100116
• Main Authors: Santos, Liani Patricia Andrade, Bonduki, Claudio Emílio, Dardes, Rita de Cássia de Maio, Heinke, Thais, Patriarca, Marisa Teresinha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.01.2022; Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina / USP
• Subjects: Genitourinary Syndrome; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Menopause; Original; Oxytocin; Promestriene; Vulvovaginal Atrophy; Genitourinary Syndrome; Oxytocin; Vulvovaginal Atrophy; Promestriene; Menopause
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100116

•Prospective, double-blind, randomized pilot study.•Compares efficacy of oxytocin and promestriene in Genitourinary Menopause Syndrome.•The two medications improved the three domains of the FSFI scales scores evaluated.•Both medications showed an increase in the thickness of the vaginal epithelium (p < 0.05).•Oxytocin and promestriene were both effective in Genitourinary Menopause Syndrome. In this pilot, prospective, randomized, double-blind study, the authors compared the efficacy of oxytocin with promestriene in improving vaginal atrophy of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). A total of 51 postmenopausal women with symptoms of GSM were evaluated. They were randomized into two groups: oxytocin (25 patients) and promestriene (26 patients) and were evaluated before and after 90 days of treatment; the evaluation was based on the domains of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) (lubrication, satisfaction, and pain during sexual intercourse), clinical visual examination, and vaginal wall thickness. After the use of the medications, both groups showed significant improvement in the three evaluated FSFI domains (p < 0.05) and there was no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). On clinical examination, the medications improved all the evaluated parameters but without statistical significance (p > 0.05). The evaluation of the thickness of the vaginal epithelium showed that both treatments led to increase in the vaginal epithelium (p < 0.05); however, the efficacy of promestriene was higher than that of oxytocin (p < 0.05). Both medications were effective, however, studies with larger samples and longer follow-ups are needed to confirm the clinical applicability.