Comparative Study : The Effect of Vaginal Estrogen Use, Fractional CO2 LASER and Microablative Fractional Radiofrequency in the Treatment of Vaginal Atrophy: Clinical, Histological, Immunohistochemical and Molecular Biology Study
Comparative Study : The Effect of Vaginal Estrogen Use, Fractional CO2 LASER and Microablative Fractional Radiofrequency in the Treatment of Vaginal Atrophy: Clinical, Histological, Immunohistochemical and Molecular Biology Study
Postmenopausal hypoestrogenism may determine genital atrophy, which may be accompanied by a non-specific inflammatory process and may hinder or even prevent sexual intercourse. In more severe cases, the patient may have local pain that interferes with their daily activities. The best treatment for increasing genital trophism is still estrogen. However, there are women who can not use this therapy or do not want it. Therefore, there is a need for alternatives, such as ablation techniques: use of CO2 LASER and fractional radiofrequency.
The study was carried out at the outpatient clinic of Lower Genital Tract ambulatory of the Discipline of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, involving 75 women who were divided after randomization in three groups:
Group 1 - treatment with topical vaginal promestriene (n = 25 patients); Group 2 - treatment with fractional CO2 LASER (n = 25 patients); Group 3 - fractional microablative radiofrequency treatment (n = 25 patients).
An evaluation of the complaints were be performed through questionnaires on sexuality, quality of life and urinary incontinence, as well as biopsies of the vaginal wall for histomorphometric, immunohistochemical and molecular biology study before and after six months of treatment. The duration of the study were fifteen months.
After completing the eligibility criteria, patients signed the consent inform.
Division of groups:
Were included in the study 75 patients, divided into three groups:
Group 1 - Treatment with topical vaginal promestriene - 25 patients in this group were included patients free of systemic or topical hormonal treatment for at 3 months
Group 2 - Treatment with CO2 LASER - 25 patients, in this group were included patients free of systemic or topical hormonal treatment for at 3 months.
Group 3 - Treatment with microablative fractionated radiofrequency - 25 patients in this group were included patients free of systemic or topical hormonal treatment for at least 3 months.
The present study was open and randomized. The randomization was be performed through the software "Test Generator Software Standard Edition"
At the first visit, all patients responded to the clinical questionnaire of female sex quotient (QS-F), the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) and the urinary incontinence questionnaire.
All patients were submitted to specular gynecological examination to collect cervical-vaginal cytology, biopsy of 1/3 proximal vaginal wall for histological analysis and immunohistochemistry.
After the results of the examinations and possible treatments required, the patients were referred for the proposed treatments according to their randomized group.
Sampling Cytology :Cervical and vaginal oncology cytology were collected through a smear on a slide with fixative.
The histological expression of the following immunohistochemical parameters will be evaluated:
In this study, it will be done a Morphological Analysis, a Histomorphometric analysis and e Immunohistochemical analysis.
Inclusion Criteria:
Age equal or superior to 40 years and under 65 years
Exclusion Criteria:
Whole Hymen