Tratamiento de la atrofia vaginal a través de anillo con liberación de ultrabaja dosis de estradiol

Abstract

Vaginal atrophy is a chronic disease that is often undiagnosed and has a major impact on sexual health and quality of life. Vaginal atrophy is caused by physiological changes due to a decrease of estrogens. These changes are the basis of a number of symptoms including vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, itching and irritation reported in 40-60% of postmenopausal women in Europe. The percentage of treated women is less than 30%, and compliance is less than 10% per year. Local estrogens are the first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe vaginal atrophy.

A new local estrogen treatment has recently become available in Spain, consisting of a flexible silicone ring with a core containing 2 mg of estradiol hemihydrate. The amount of estradiol released is minimal but in continuous quantities, with a release of 6.5 to 9.5 mcg/day for at least 90 days. The vaginal ring has been proven to be effective in relieving local symptoms (vaginal and urological), improving the vaginal mucosa based on visual examination (pale color, turgor, roughness, and thickness) and on the rate of cytologic maturation (a greater proportion of surface cells and a decrease in basal, parabasal and intermediate cells) and pH.

The ring produces the same side effects as other types of local estrogen and is the most frequently chosen method by patients because of its ease of use and comfort, and the general satisfaction produced.