Role of topical oxytocin in improving vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled trial

Abstract

Objective and design: Prospective randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of topical oxytocin gel to improve vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.

Patients and methods: A total of 140 postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal atrophy and who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into two groups each of 70 patients; they received intravaginal oxytocin gel or placebo gel for 30 days. Serum estrogen level, visual, colposcopic and histological vaginal examination were performed before and after treatment.

Results: Forty-seven out of 70 women in the oxytocin gel group improved after treatment and none in the placebo group (p = 0.001). Forty-five participants in the oxytocin group and seven in the placebo group reported relief of dyspareunia (p = 0.001). Thirty-four participants in the oxytocin group and seven in the placebo group reported relief of soreness (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the circulating levels of estradiol in both groups before and after treatment (p = 0.4 and 0.6 for the oxytocin group and the placebo group, respectively).

Conclusion: Oxytocin gel is useful in the restoration of the vaginal epithelium in cases of postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis. Further studies with a longer follow-up period are required to test the long-term effects of oxytocin as a treatment for vaginal atrophy.

Keywords:

• Postmenopause
• vaginal atrophy
• treatment
• oxytocin gel

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that they have not received any financial support.