REPLENS VERSUS DIENOESTROL CREAM IN THE SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF VAGINAL ATROPHY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Replen s, a non-hormonal moisturizing vaginal gel, on symptoms of vaginal atr ophy in postmenopausal women, in comparison with Dienoestrol (Cilag), an oestrogenic vaginal cream. Methods: Thirty-nine patients were rando mly allocated to either of the two treatments. Replens was given three times a week during the 12 weeks of the study, while Dienoestrol was administred daily during the first 2 weeks and thereafter three times a week. Vaginal dryness index, itching, irritation, dyspareunia, pH an d safety were evaluated every week the first month and every month the reafter. Results: Both treatments had a significant increase on vagina l dryness index as soon as the first week of treatment, and the hormon al compound was significantly better than the non-hormonal one. All sy mptoms such as itching, irritation and dyspareunia significantly decre ased or disappeared without any difference between the two treatments. For pH, no significant difference was seen either in each group or be tween the two groups. No adverse events related with the two drugs wer e found. Conclusion: This study shows that Replens applied vaginally t hree times a week, is a full therapy for all symptoms of vaginal atrop hy as well as local estrogen. No serious adverse event was related. Re plens is an alternative treatment to local estrogen and perhaps a good complement of systemic HRT in patient suffering from vaginal dryness.