evaluating the role of vulvovaginal injection of a cross-linked HA in patients surgically treated for cancer affected by vulvovaginal Symptomatology

Hyaluronic acid injection as functional adjuvant therapy in menopausal vulvovaginal symptoms - preliminary report. A Randomized, clinical trial.

Article specifications

This clinical trial was published in 2016 in journal of Azienda Ospedaliera Nazionale by Italian gynecologists. In this study the role of vulvovaginal injection of a cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid in patients surgically treated for cancer affected by vulvovaginal symptomatology. In this study 23 post-menopausal patients (Mean age was 62 years, time since menopause was 5 years on average. Symptoms were vaginal dryness, itching, burning and dyspareunia) treated for endometrial cancer with vulvovaginal symptoms were treated with multiple spots injections of 1ml HA with 30Gx1/2 in needle (T1), repeated after 3 months (T2). Self-evaluation using a visual analog scale and investigators evaluation were recorded one month after each treatment.

Results

The results of this clinical trial showed that high-molecular weight HA injection is an effective adjuvant therapy of postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms; it could be recommended in women operated on cancer in which hormonal treatment is not safe.

According to self-evaluation after T1, improvement in vulvovaginal dryness was reported by 58% of women; improvement rates in vulval itching, burning and dyspareunia were about 75, 77, and 58 % respectively. At T2, women showed a further reduction of symptoms (82% dryness, 90% itching, 92% burning, and 78% dyspareunia). Clinical evaluation showed a trophic stimulation of mucous membrane with a reduction of pale and atrophied appearance, and vaginal secretions in all cases. No side effects were recorded.