Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on moderate to severe dyspareunia and vaginal dryness, symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, and of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to confirm the local beneficial effects of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, Prasterone) on moderate to severe dyspareunia or pain at sexual activity, the most frequent symptom of vulvovaginal atrophy due to menopause or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial, the effect of daily intravaginal 0.50% DHEA (6.5 mg) (Prasterone, EndoCeutics) was examined on four coprimary objectives, namely percentage of parabasal cells, percentage or superficial cells, vaginal pH, and moderate to severe pain at sexual activity (dyspareunia) identified by the women as their most bothersome vulvovaginal atrophy symptom. The intent-to-treat population included 157 and 325 women in the placebo and DHEA-treated groups, respectively. RESULTS: After daily intravaginal administration of 0.50% DHEA for 12 weeks, when compared to baseline by the analysis of covariance test, the percentage of parabasal cells decreased by 27.7% over placebo (P < 0.0001), whereas the percentage of superficial cells increased by 8.44% over placebo (P < 0.0001), vaginal pH decreased by 0.66 pH unit over placebo (P < 0.0001), and pain at sexual activity decreased by 1.42 severity score unit from baseline or 0.36 unit over placebo (P = 0.0002). On the other hand, moderate to severe vaginal dryness present in 84.0% of women improved at 12 weeks by 1.44 severity score unit compared to baseline, or 0.27 unit over placebo (P = 0.004). At gynecological evaluation, vaginal secretions, epithelial integrity, epithelial surface thickness, and color all improved by 86% to 121% over the placebo effect (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons with placebo). Serum steroid levels remained well within the normal postmenopausal values according to the involved mechanisms of intracrinology. The only side effect reasonably related to treatment is vaginal discharge due to melting of the vehicle at body temperature and this was reported in about 6% of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: The daily intravaginal administration of 0.50% (6.5 mg) DHEA (Prasterone) has shown clinically and highly statistically significant effects on the four coprimary parameters suggested by the US Food and Drug Administration. The strictly local action of Prasterone is in line with the absence of significant drug-related adverse events, thus showing the high benefit-to-risk ratio of this treatment based upon the novel understanding of the physiology of sex steroids in women.

Tissue-selective estrogen complexes: a promising option for the comprehensive management of menopausal symptoms.

At menopause many women experience undesired symptoms such as hot flashes and those associated with vulvovaginal atrophy, and are susceptible to loss of bone mass. Menopausal therapies to date include various estrogen and estrogen-progestin (progesterone congener) formulations. However, both physicians and women became concerned about hormone-related therapies following publication of data from the Women's Health Initiative. Thus, the need exists for alternative therapies for postmenopausal women. Tissue-selective estrogen complexes (TSECs) are the pairing of estrogen(s) with a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). The goal of developing a TSEC is to provide the clinical benefits of each of its components with improved tolerability. This goal can potentially be achieved by the result of the different molecular and cellular activities of the treatment's estrogen and SERM components. The therapeutic profile of a TSEC would optimally include relief of hot flashes, treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy and its symptoms, and prevention of bone loss, while providing safety for the endometrium and breast. Recent data indicate that the TSEC containing the SERM bazedoxifene and conjugated estrogens relieves hot flashes, improves vulvovaginal atrophy and its symptoms, and prevents loss of bone mass without stimulating the endometrium. This article reviews the current options for menopausal treatment as well as the environment that has driven the most recent evolution of new therapies for menopausal women, including the most recent development of the TSEC bazedoxifene and its early preclinical and clinical data.