Female Cancer Survivors, Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), Menopause, Vaginal Dryness
Conditions
Keywords
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, GSM, Vaginal Dryness, Quality of Life
Brief summary
This pilot study is designed to evaluate an individualized approach to the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in women who have undergone oncological treatment. GSM is a common condition in postmenopausal women and may include symptoms such as vaginal dryness, irritation, pain during intercourse, and urinary discomfort. These symptoms can significantly affect quality of life and sexual function, particularly in women after cancer treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a personalized, non-hormonal treatment approach can effectively reduce GSM symptoms and improve overall quality of life and sexual function in this patient population. Participants will be assigned to an intervention group or a control group and will be followed prospectively over time. The study will include women in menopause who have completed oncological treatment and experience symptoms of GSM. Clinical assessments, patient-reported outcomes, and quality-of-life questionnaires will be used to evaluate treatment effectiveness and safety. The results of this pilot study may help inform future clinical practice and support the development of individualized, non-hormonal treatment strategies for women with GSM after cancer treatment.
Interventions
DEVICENon-ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy
Non-ablative vaginal erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser therapy administered for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The intervention consists of three vaginal laser treatments performed at four-week intervals, using standardized laser parameters, without tissue ablation. The procedure is conducted in an outpatient setting.
OTHERStandard care
Standard conservative management according to institutional clinical practice guidelines for genitourinary syndrome of menopause, without laser-based intervention.
Sponsors
Institute of Oncology Ljubljana
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Intervention model description
Participants are assigned to either an individualized intervention group or a control group receiving standard care, and outcomes are compared between groups.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Female sex. Postmenopausal women. History of oncological treatment (e.g., gynecological or other malignancies). Presence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), including symptoms such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, burning, irritation, or urinary symptoms. Completion of primary oncological treatment prior to enrollment. Age ≥ 18 years. Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Current pregnancy or premenopausal status. Active malignant disease requiring ongoing oncological treatment. Acute genital or urinary tract infection at the time of enrollment. Prior participation in another interventional clinical study that could influence study outcomes. Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to study-related interventions. Any medical or psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would interfere with study participation or outcome assessment.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Severity of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) Symptoms | Baseline | The primary outcome is the change in severity of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) symptoms following individualized treatment in women after oncological treatment. Symptom severity will be assessed using validated clinical and patient-reported outcome measures, including vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, irritation, and urinary symptoms. Changes will be evaluated by comparing baseline measurements with post-intervention assessments. |
| Change in Severity of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) Symptoms | Throughout study completion: 3 times, every 4 weeks | The primary outcome is the change in severity of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) symptoms following individualized treatment in women after oncological treatment. Symptom severity will be assessed using validated clinical and patient-reported outcome measures, including vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, irritation, and urinary symptoms. Changes will be evaluated by comparing baseline measurements with post-intervention assessments. |
Countries
Slovenia
Outcome results
None listed