Omaha OB-GYN Associates, Department of Pelvic Pain & Sexual Medicine Omaha, NE, USA.
Creighton University Omaha, NE, USA.
Sex Med. 2014 Apr;2(1):8-15. doi: 10.1002/sm2.22.
Women with breast cancer have better cancer-related outcomes with the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs), but the physiological suppression of estradiol can negatively affect sexual functioning because of unpleasant urogenital and vaginal symptoms. Local health care practitioners have observed that the benefits of vaginal testosterone in allaying these unpleasant symptoms in women with breast cancer are similar to the benefits of vaginal estrogen in women without breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of using a daily vaginal testosterone cream on the reported sexual health quality of life in women with breast cancer taking AI therapy.
Thirteen postmenopausal women with breast cancer on AI therapy and experiencing symptoms of sexual dysfunction were recruited from an oncology practice. The women were prescribed a 300 μg testosterone vaginal cream daily for 4 weeks. During the first study visit, a vaginal swab was obtained to rule out the presence of Candida species or Gardnerella vaginalis in participants. Women with positive vaginal swabs were treated prior to starting the vaginal testosterone therapy.
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) survey, measuring female sexual health quality of life, was administered during the first study visit and at the final study visit, after completing testosterone therapy.
Twelve patients completed 4 weeks of daily vaginal testosterone therapy. When compared with baseline FSFI scores, there was a statistically significant improvement for individual domain scores of desire (P = 0.000), arousal (P = 0.002), lubrication (P = 0.018), orgasm (P = 0.005), satisfaction (P = 0.001), and pain (P = 0.000). Total domain scores reflecting sexual health quality of life also improved when compared with baseline (P = 0.000).
The use of a compounded testosterone vaginal cream applied daily for 4 weeks improves reported sexual health quality of life in women with breast cancer taking AIs. Dahir M and Travers-Gustafson D. Breast cancer, aromatase inhibitor therapy, and sexual functioning: A pilot study of the effects of vaginal testosterone therapy. Sex Med 2014;2:8-15.
使用芳香化酶抑制剂（AIs）可改善乳腺癌女性的癌症相关预后，但雌二醇的生理抑制会导致女性出现不愉快的泌尿生殖和阴道症状，从而对性功能产生负面影响。当地的医疗保健从业者观察到，阴道睾酮在缓解乳腺癌女性这些不适症状方面的益处与阴道雌激素在非乳腺癌女性中的益处相似。
本研究旨在评估每天使用阴道睾酮乳膏对接受 AI 治疗的乳腺癌女性报告的性功能健康相关生活质量的影响。
从肿瘤学门诊招募了 13 名正在接受 AI 治疗且存在性功能障碍症状的绝经后乳腺癌女性。这些女性被开具了每日一次 300μg 睾酮阴道乳膏，疗程为 4 周。在第一次研究就诊时，获取阴道拭子以排除参与者存在念珠菌或阴道加德纳菌。在开始阴道睾酮治疗前，对阴道拭子阳性的女性进行了治疗。
在第一次就诊时和完成睾酮治疗后的最后一次就诊时，采用女性性功能指数（FSFI）调查评估女性性功能健康相关生活质量。
12 名患者完成了 4 周的每日阴道睾酮治疗。与基线 FSFI 评分相比，性欲（P=0.000）、唤起（P=0.002）、润滑（P=0.018）、性高潮（P=0.005）、满意度（P=0.001）和疼痛（P=0.000）等各领域评分均有统计学显著改善。与基线相比，反映整体性功能健康相关生活质量的总分也有所改善（P=0.000）。
使用每日一次的复方睾酮阴道乳膏治疗 4 周可改善接受 AI 治疗的乳腺癌女性的报告性功能健康相关生活质量。
