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High Tone Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

NCT03083262 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2017-12-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse, is one of the most commonly reported complaints in postmenopausal women. One common cause of dyspareunia is vaginal atrophy (VVA), which occurs in \>50% of postmenopausal women. At the time of menopause, a lack of estrogen thins the vaginal mucosa and lessons lubrication, making sex painful. Some women with vaginal atrophy will also have high tone pelvic floor dysfunction (HTPFD) (also known as levator spasm). Successful treatment of the sexual pain requires treatment of both vaginal atrophy and HTPFD.

How often vaginal atrophy and HTPFD coexist has not been studied. In fact, the prevalence of HTPFD is unknown. This is most likely due to the fact that many clinicians are unaware of its existence or how to diagnose or treat it. Also, sexual symptoms tend to be underreported due to embarrassment or hesitation to seek care. HTPFD frequently coexists with other conditions that cause pain like vaginal atrophy, endometriosis or interstitial cystitis. Treatment includes treating both conditions. If only one is treated, then sexual pain is likely to continue. There are several available treatments for HTPFD that have been studied including physical therapy, botox and intravaginal diazepam.

This is an area where clinicians may be under treating a condition and limiting the possibility of restoring normal sexual function to many women. Treating only vaginal atrophy without appropriate evaluation and treatment of HTPFD leaves a cohort of women still struggling with sexual pain. With a better understanding of the relationship between HTPFD and vaginal atrophy, the investigators hope to bring awareness concerning the importance of treating both in restoring normal sexual function.

Conditions

  • Vulvovaginal Atrophy

Interventions

OTHER

no intervention

None, there is no intervention

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • St. Louis University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Becky K Lynn, MD · St. Louis University

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
90 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-01-31
Primary Completion
2017-02-01
Completion
2017-02-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03083262 on ClinicalTrials.gov