title: Can polyacrylic acid treat sexual dysfunction in women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a lack of safety data supporting the use of hormone therapy in women who have had breast cancer and who have complained of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The objective was to test the efficacy of two non-hormonal therapies for vaginal dryness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized trial with 52 women with breast cancer who were being treated with tamoxifen and who complained of vaginal dryness. The volunteers answered two questionnaires to evaluate sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI) and a customized GSM questionnaire. The women were randomized into two groups: 25 (48.1%) in the polyacrylic acid group and 27 (51.9%) in the lubricant group, using either one of the treatments for 30 days, and after they were invited to answer the questionnaires again.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was improvement in the FSFI after both treatments. The polyacrylic acid group showed a decrease in sexual dysfunction from 96% to 24% (p < 0.0001) and the lubricant group showed a decrease from 88.9% to 55.6% (p = 0.0027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that both treatments improved sexual function; however, polyacrylic acid was superior to the lubricant in treating sexual dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: a Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Technology of Bioactive Products , Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Juliato
authors.affiliation: b Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences , State University of Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: b Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences , State University of Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stahlschmidt
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas, State University of Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: C R T
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Juliato
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Campinas, State University of Campinas , Brazil.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mazzola
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D013629:Tamoxifen; C006903:carbopol 940
keywords: Breast cancer; tamoxifen; vaginal dryness; vaginal lubricant; vaginal moisturizer