title: Coital pain in the elderly: could a low dose estriol gel thrill the vulvar vestibule?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule in the management of postmenopausal dyspareunia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenopausal women with dyspareunia were enrolled in this study. Patients were instructed to use a fingertip to apply 0.25g of vaginal gel containing 25μg of estriol to the vulvar vestibule daily for three weeks and then twice weekly for up to 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of symptoms (dyspareunia and cotton swab test) and signs of vestibular atrophy were performed, and changes between baseline and weeks 3 and 12 were assessed. Adverse events were recorded. A total of 63 women were included. Of the 63, 59 (93.6%) completed the 12-week treatment period, and four dropped out for vestibular burning. Dyspareunia improved or was cured (score ≤1) by week 12 in 81.4% of patients. The patients also showed a statistically significant reduction in vestibular atrophy and cotton swab test at the end of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule is effective in correcting menopausal coital pain. This suggests that reduction in sensory vestibular innervation sensitivity is likely to play a pivotal role in the relief of dyspareunia. One limitation of this study is the limited follow-up, but the therapy may be continued for as long as the patients are distressed by their symptoms without estrogen intervention.
authors.affiliation: Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital-University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: filippomurina@tin.it.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murina
authors.affiliation: Gynaecology Unit, San Raffaele Resnati Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graziottin
authors.affiliation: Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital-University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Felice
authors.affiliation: Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital-University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001284:Atrophy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D017698:Postmenopause; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014844:Vulva; D054515:Vulvar Vestibulitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D005782:Gels; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D004964:Estriol
keywords: Dyspareunia; Estriol; Gel; Postmenopausal; Vestibulodynia; Vulvodynia