EFFECT OF INTRAVAGINAL DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE IN REDUCING POSTMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Abstract

BACKGROUND- Dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) replacement therapy resulted in a signicant improvement in well being and sexuality in women with adrenal insufciency as a result of direct effect of DHEAon nervous system.DHEAhas many of the benets of estrogen, with no side effects, and helps women with vaginal atrophy to stimulate the cellular growth of the vaginal wall and increases vaginal secretion. METHOD AND MATERIAL- This study was conducted on 64 postmenopausal women of 40-70 years of age group. A detailed history and thorough systemic and gynaecological examination was done at rst visit and then after 12 week of DHEAtherapy.Specic investigation- vaginal PH, vaginal cytology for determination of maturation index(MI) and endometrial biopsy. The cases included in the control group were given placebo treatment by vaginal route for a period of 12 week and any change in vaginal symptoms, vaginal pH and smear pattern, maturation index and endometrial histology was observed. RESULTAND CONCLUSION-It was found that placebo had no signicant effect on the desire domain, whereas with 0.5% DHEA, 77% women showed signicant improvement (p<0.05). When the arousal/orgasm/pleasure domains were observed at the standard 12 week time interval, a signicant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in study group, when compared with placebo group. A signicant decrease in vaginal pH and increase in Maturation Index observed in women treated with DHEA.