Local oestrogen of limited benefit in postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse

Locally applied oestrogen does not seem to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), reports a recent study.

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of previously published randomized controlled trial, which enrolled 120 postmenopausal women with symptomatic POP for the comparison of local oestrogen therapy (LET) with placebo. The German Pelvic Floor Questionnaire was used to assess sexual function at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment.

Sixty-six sexually active women remained available for secondary analysis, with ages ranging from 45 to 85 years (mean, 60.2 years). Majority (n=50; 76 percent) were either married or partnered. At baseline, sexual function was comparable between the LET and placebo groups (1.88 vs 2.35, respectively; mean difference, –0.6143; p=0.189).

Six weeks after intervention, sexual function remained comparable between groups, with an average score of 1.55 in women receiving LET vs 2.19 in the placebo arm. The overall score was 1.86. Moreover, the change values in sexual function score from baseline also did not differ between groups (difference, –0.110, 95 percent confidence interval, –0.364 to –0.144).

Nevertheless, the effect of time was statistically significant (p<0.001), indicating that sexual function changed significantly over time in both groups.

The principal findings were confirmed by multivariable linear regression analysis, which showed no parameter that could significantly predict sexual function score after adjusting for age, smoking, parity, age at menopause, and POP stage at baseline.