Genitourinary syndrome, local oestrogen therapy and endometrial pathology: a single-centre, randomised study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the endometrial pathology developed (EP) in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome during and after vaginal oestrogen therapy. The 67 patients included were randomly grouped into group I underwent local oestrogen (oestriol) therapy and group II, underwent no therapy. Each patient’s medical history was taken and clinical and gynecological examination, with transvaginal ultrasound at the time of inclusion and during the control visits, was done. The study results show no statistically higher risk of EP for vaginal oestrogen therapy of genitourinary syndrome users compared to the non-users in menopause. No one atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia case during the study period was found.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Treatment of genitourinary syndrome with oestrogens in menopausal women is the most commonly used and affordable method. Topical vaginal oestrogens do not have the same stimulating effect on the endometrium as oral ones, and therefore the association between them and endometrial hyperplasia or cancer has not been established categorically.

• What do the results of this study add? This single-center, randomised study found no statistically higher risk of endometrial pathology for vaginal oestrogen (oestriol) therapy of genitourinary syndrome users compared to the non-users in menopause. No one atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia case during the study period was found.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study confirms the safety of local oestrogen (oestriol) therapy of genitourinary syndrome in menopausal women with regards to the development of endometrial pathology and especially atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or well-differentiated carcinoma

Keywords:

• Genitourinary syndrome
• oestrogen
• local
• endometrial pathology
• cardiovascular risk

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.