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Clinical Trial
. 2017:2017:7513610.
doi: 10.1155/2017/7513610. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Impact of Ospemifene on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Young Survivors of Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Study

Nicoletta De Rosa  1 , Giada Lavitola  1 , Pierluigi Giampaolino  1 , Ilaria Morra  1 , Carmine Nappi  2 , Giuseppe Bifulco  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Impact of Ospemifene on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Young Survivors of Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Study

Nicoletta De Rosa et al. Biomed Res Int. 2017.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) treatments impact quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SF) of survivors. Treatment options to reduce sexual dysfunction are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of ospemifene in CC survivors with clinical signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) focusing on their QoL and SF.

Materials and methods: Fifty-two patients with previous diagnosis of stage I-IIa CC suffering from VVA and treated with ospemifene were enrolled into a single arm prospective study. Patient underwent 6 months of therapy. At baseline and after 6 months all subjects performed Vaginal Health Index (VHI). The SF and QoL were measured by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) and the Cervical Cancer Module (CXC-24).

Results: After treatment a significant improvement of each parameter of VHI has been demonstrated. Global health status and emotional and social functioning scores improved significantly. On the contrary, general symptoms scales did not show significant difference from baseline data. Sexual activity, sexual vaginal functioning, body image, and sexual enjoyment scores increased significantly.

Conclusion: Ospemifene seems to be effective in decreasing the VVA symptoms in CC survivors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Median values of the EORTC QLQ-C30 subscale at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. QoL: global health status, PF: physical functioning, RF: role functioning, EF: emotional functioning, CF: cognitive functioning, SF: social functioning, F: fatigue, NV: nausea and vomiting, PA: pain, DY: dyspnoea, SL: insomnia, AP: appetite loss, CO: constipation; DI: diarrhoea, and FI: financial difficulties. ○ are extreme values; that is, they do not fall into internal fences. ★ are extreme abnormal values and represent cases/rows with values that exceed three times the height of the boxes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median values specific cancer module CXC-24 at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. BI: body image, SXA: sexual activity, SXE: sexual enjoyment, SXV: sexual vaginal functioning, SE: symptom experience, LY: lymphoedema, PN: peripheral neuropathy, H: menopausal symptoms, and SW: sexual worry. ○ are extreme values; that is, they do not fall into internal fences. ★ are extreme abnormal values and represent cases/rows with values that exceed three times the height of the boxes.
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