• R A Ayton, G M Darling, A L Murkies, E A Farrell, E Weisberg, I Selinus, and I D Fraser.
• Menopause Service, Division of Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
• Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996 Apr 1; 103 (4): 351-8.

ObjectiveTo compare the safety, efficacy and acceptability of a continuous low dose oestradiol releasing vaginal ring with conjugated equine oestrogen vaginal cream in the treatment of postmenopausal urogenital atrophy.DesignAn open, parallel, comparative multicentre trial.SettingSydney and Melbourne, Australia.Participants And InterventionsOne hundred and ninety-four postmenopausal women with symptoms and signs of urogenital atrophy were randomised on a 2:1 basis to 12 weeks of treatment with an oestrogen vaginal ring versus an oestrogen cream.Main Outcome Measures And ResultsEquivalence (95% CI) was demonstrated between the two treatments for relief of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, resolution of atrophic signs, improvement in vaginal mucosal maturation indices and reduction in vaginal pH. No significant difference was demonstrated in endometrial response to a progestogen challenge test and equivalence was demonstrated in the incidence of intercurrent bleeding episodes. The vaginal ring was significantly more acceptable than the cream P < 0.0001), and was preferred to the cream (P < 0.001).ConclusionWith equivalent efficacy and safety and superior acceptability to vaginal cream, the low dose oestradiol vaginal ring is an advance in vaginal delivery systems for the treatment of urogenital atrophy.

27 keywords...

hide…