The Effect of a New Vaginal Cream (A Persian Medicine Product) on Subjective Symptoms of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Breast Cancer Survivors

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) usually occurs during and after menopause due to low estrogen levels and can cause frustrating symptoms. Existing treatments such as estrogen compounds have undesired side effects.

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a chicken tallow product for vaginal use on subjective symptoms of VVA in women with breast cancer.

Menopause induced by chemical drugs with subjective symptoms of VVA were selected from the Oncology-Radiotherapy Clinic of Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital between March and July 2020. Informed consent was obtained. Patients were instructed to apply 5g cream every other night before bedtime for 2 weeks, and 2 nights a week for the next 2 weeks and stop themedication. Patients were assessed at the time of initiation of medication, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after initiation of the trial, and VVA subjective symptoms were assessed. VVA subjective symptom score (VVA-SSS) form was used to assess itching, burning, dryness, and dyspareunia, using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were, then, analyzed.

Fifty women were included in the study (age above 18 years). All 5 monitored indices (itching, burning, dryness, dyspareunia, and VVA subjective symptoms score) diminished after initiation of intervention and reached a minimum level after 4 weeks of intervention (1.10 ± 1.16 baseline to 0.04 ± 0.20 at 4 weeks for itching, 1.42 ± 1.09 to 0.04 ± 0.20 for burning, 2.68 ± 0.91 to 0.30 ± 0.54 for dryness, 2.96± 0.88 to 0.50 ± 0.61 for dyspareunia, and 8.12 ± 2.70 to 0.86 ± 1.07 for VVA-SSS). During the 4 weeks following discontinuation of treatment, the symptoms slightly increased but remained significantly lower than the baseline (P-value < 0.001 for all 5 indices at all monitored time points).

The proposed treatment, rooted in Persian traditional medicine, may offer a safe and effective treatment for VVA symptoms in BCS.