Review Weighs Treatments for Genitourinary Symptoms of Menopause
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Sept. 10, 2024 -- Vaginal estrogen, vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), oral ospemifene, and vaginal moisturizers may be beneficial for some genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM), according to a review published online Sept. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Elisheva R. Danan, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues examined the effectiveness and harms of vaginal estrogen, nonestrogen hormone therapies, and vaginal moisturizers for treatment of GSM in a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A total of 46 RCTs assessing vaginal estrogen, nonestrogen hormones, vaginal moisturizers, or multiple interventions were identified from 11,993 citations.
The researchers found that vaginal estrogen may improve vulvovaginal dryness, dyspareunia, the most bothersome symptom, and treatment satisfaction compared with placebo or no treatment. Vaginal DHEA may improve dryness, dyspareunia, and distress, bother, or interference from genitourinary symptoms compared with placebo; oral ospemifene may improve dryness, dyspareunia, and treatment satisfaction; and dryness may also be improved by vaginal moisturizers (all low certainty of evidence [COE]). No benefit or uncertain effects (low and very low COE, respectively) may be provided by vaginal testosterone, systemic DHEA, vaginal oxytocin, and oral raloxifene or bazedoxifene. Reporting was limited by studies of short duration that were insufficiently powered to assess infrequent serious harms.
"Future studies would be strengthened by standard definitions of symptoms and uniform diagnostic criteria for GSM, a common set of validated outcome measures and reporting standards, and attention to clinically relevant patient populations and intervention comparisons," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Evidence Map (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
Plant-Based Diet Tied to Weight Loss, Fewer Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- A plant-based diet rich in soy, regardless of the level of processing, may benefit both hot flash and weight management in postmenopausal women...
ASCO: Elinzanetant Cuts Vasomotor Symptoms in Women With Breast Cancer on Endocrine Therapy
TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- For women with moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with endocrine therapy for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, elinzanetant, a...
Earlier Natural Menopause Risk Increased for Women in Socially Vulnerable Neighborhoods
THURSDAY, May 29, 2025 -- Women residing in U.S. neighborhoods with high social vulnerability have a higher risk for earlier natural menopause, according to a study published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.