New Non-Hormonal Treatment by Radiofrequency for Vulvo-Vaginal Atrophy

Summary

Vulvo-Vaginal Atrophy (VVA) or Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) is a common and under-reported condition associated with decreased estrogenization of the vaginal tissue The aim of this study is to evaluate safety and efficacy of " Dynamic Quadripolar Radio-frequency" thermal treatment with Vaginal Dynamic Radio-frequency (VDR™) and Radio-frequency Safety System (RSS™) for the treatment of VVA and GSM in postmenopausal women who either present contra-indication for menopause hormone therapy, or are not willing to use Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) or have failed to be helped using MHT.

Timeline

Start

2019-03-01

Primary completion

2021-12-08

Completion

2021-12-08

Outcome

Outcome not reported

Stopped: “The study was delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The study was stopped prematurely due to a lack of efficiency (reported by the patients)”

Publications

• Background Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D'Agostino R Jr. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000 Apr-Jun;26(2):191-208. doi: 10.1080/009262300278597.
• Background Erekson EA, Yip SO, Wedderburn TS, Martin DK, Li FY, Choi JN, Kenton KS, Fried TR. The Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire: a questionnaire for measuring vulvovaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2013 Sep;20(9):973-9. doi: 10.1097/GME.0b013e318282600b.
• Background Bouchard C, Labrie F, Derogatis L, Girard G, Ayotte N, Gallagher J, Cusan L, Archer DF, Portman D, Lavoie L, Beauregard A, Cote I, Martel C, Vaillancourt M, Balser J, Moyneur E; VVA Prasterone Group. Effect of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the female sexual function in postmenopausal women: ERC-230 open-label study. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2016 Mar;25(3):181-90. doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2015-0044.
• Background Vicariotto F, DE Seta F, Faoro V, Raichi M. Dynamic quadripolar radiofrequency treatment of vaginal laxity/menopausal vulvo-vaginal atrophy: 12-month efficacy and safety. Minerva Ginecol. 2017 Aug;69(4):342-349. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4784.17.04072-2.
• Background Rozenberg S, Vandromme J, Antoine C. Postmenopausal hormone therapy: risks and benefits. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2013 Apr;9(4):216-27. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2013.17. Epub 2013 Feb 19.
• Background Nappi RE, Kokot-Kierepa M. Women's voices in the menopause: results from an international survey on vaginal atrophy. Maturitas. 2010 Nov;67(3):233-8. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.08.001. Epub 2010 Sep 9.
• Background Melisko ME, Goldman ME, Hwang J, De Luca A, Fang S, Esserman LJ, Chien AJ, Park JW, Rugo HS. Vaginal Testosterone Cream vs Estradiol Vaginal Ring for Vaginal Dryness or Decreased Libido in Women Receiving Aromatase Inhibitors for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2017 Mar 1;3(3):313-319. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.3904.
• Background Kingsberg SA, Wysocki S, Magnus L, Krychman ML. Vulvar and vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: findings from the REVIVE (REal Women's VIews of Treatment Options for Menopausal Vaginal ChangEs) survey. J Sex Med. 2013 Jul;10(7):1790-9. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12190. Epub 2013 May 16.
• Background Kendall A, Dowsett M, Folkerd E, Smith I. Caution: Vaginal estradiol appears to be contraindicated in postmenopausal women on adjuvant aromatase inhibitors. Ann Oncol. 2006 Apr;17(4):584-7. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdj127. Epub 2006 Jan 27.
• Background Hutchinson-Colas J, Segal S. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause and the use of laser therapy. Maturitas. 2015 Dec;82(4):342-5. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.08.001. Epub 2015 Aug 12.
• Background Baumgart J, Nilsson K, Evers AS, Kallak TK, Poromaa IS. Sexual dysfunction in women on adjuvant endocrine therapy after breast cancer. Menopause. 2013 Feb;20(2):162-8. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e31826560da.
• Background Antoine C, Vandromme J, Fastrez M, Carly B, Liebens F, Rozenberg S. A survey among breast cancer survivors: treatment of the climacteric after breast cancer. Climacteric. 2008 Aug;11(4):322-8. doi: 10.1080/13697130802244422.
• Background Antoine C, Liebens F, Carly B, Pastijn A, Rozenberg S. Safety of alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms after breast cancer: a qualitative systematic review. Climacteric. 2007 Feb;10(1):23-6. doi: 10.1080/13697130601176734.
• Background Ameye L, Antoine C, Paesmans M, de Azambuja E, Rozenberg S. Menopausal hormone therapy use in 17 European countries during the last decade. Maturitas. 2014 Nov;79(3):287-91. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.07.002. Epub 2014 Aug 4.
• Background Goldstein SR, Bachmann GA, Koninckx PR, Lin VH, Portman DJ, Ylikorkala O; Ospemifene Study Group. Ospemifene 12-month safety and efficacy in postmenopausal women with vulvar and vaginal atrophy. Climacteric. 2014 Apr;17(2):173-82. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2013.834493. Epub 2013 Nov 23.
• Background Rozenberg S, Pornel B, Koninckx PR, Palacios S, Christiansen C. Endometrium protection and acceptability of nasally administered continuously combined hormone therapy: a multicentre, multinational, double-blind trial in post-menopausal women evaluating three regimens of 17beta-estradiol and norethisterone when compared with an orally administered 17beta-estradiol norethisterone regimen. Hum Reprod. 2009 Jul;24(7):1739-47. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep067. Epub 2009 Apr 7.
• Joris A, Di Pietrantonio V, Praet J, Renard K, Verduyn AC, Buxant F, Rozenberg S. Randomized trial: treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause using radiofrequency. Climacteric. 2024 Apr;27(2):210-214. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2024.2302425. Epub 2024 Jan 22.

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Indications