Lack of Influence of Dyspareunia on the Beneficial Effect of Intravaginal Prasterone (Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) on Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women. (28th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Labrie, Fernand; Archer, David; Bouchard, Céline; Fortier, Michel; Cusan, Leonello; Gomez, José‐Luis; Girard, Ginette; Baron, Mira; Ayotte, Normand; Moreau, Michèle; Dubé, Robert; Côté, Isabelle; Labrie, Claude; Lavoie, Lyne; Gilbert, Lucy; Martel, Céline; Balser, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of sexual medicine. Volume 11:Number 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1766
• Page End: 1785
• Publication Date: 2014-04-28
• Subjects: Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sex -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.69005
• DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12517
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-6095

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>We have previously observed that intravaginal prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) improved all domains of female sexual dysfunction (FSD).</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Investigate the influence of moderate/severe pain at sexual activity (dyspareunia) (MSD) at baseline on FSD following prasterone administration.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The effect of daily administration of prasterone (0, 3.25 mg, 6.5 mg or 13 mg) for 12 weeks on FSD in 215 postmenopausal women with or without MSD at baseline was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled phase III clinical trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Main Outcome Measures</title> <p>Differences were examined on desire, arousal and orgasm.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Comparable benefits were observed in women not having MSD (n = 56) vs. those having MSD (n = 159). The benefits over placebo in prasterone‐treated women for desire, avoiding intimacy and vaginal dryness as well as for the total sexual domain of the MENQOL (Menopause Specific Quality of Life) questionnaire, ranged between 18.0% and 38.2% with <italic>P</italic> values of <0.05 or <0.01 except in one out of 12 subgroups. For the arousal/sensation, arousal/lubrication and summary score of the ASF (Abbreviated Sexual Function) questionnaire, in the MSD+ group, improvements of 64.2% (<italic>P </italic>= 0.01), 118% (<italic>P </italic>= 0.001) and 31.1% (<italic>P </italic>= 0.03) were observed over placebo, respectively, while similar differences (58.0%, 67.6% and 32.1%) did not reach statistical significance in the MSD− group having up to only 44 prasterone‐treated women compared with 119 in the MSD+ group.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12517-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>No MSD at baseline does not apparently affect the effects of intravaginal prasterone on sexual dysfunction. Knowing the absence of significant effects of estrogens on FSD, the present data suggest that vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and vulvovaginal sexual dysfunction (VVSD) are two different consequences of sex steroid deficiency at menopause which can respond independently. In addition, the present data seriously question the justification of pain being part of FSD as well as the separation of FSD into separate domains. <bold>Labrie F, Archer D, Bouchard C, Fortier M, Cusan L, Gomez J‐L, Girard G, Baron M, Ayotte N, Moreau M, Dubé R, Côté I, Labrie C, Lavoie L, Gilbert L, Martel C, and Balser J. Lack of influence of dyspareunia on the beneficial effect of intravaginal prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) on sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. J Sex Med 2014;11:1766–1785.</bold></p> </sec> </abstract>