KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to assess vaginal dilation therapy’s impact on the vaginal condition and sexual function in cervical cancer survivors.
- The results showed vaginal dilation therapy benefits cervical cancer survivors, regardless of treatment method.
Cervical cancer survivors may encounter issues such as shortened vaginal length, stenosis, reduced vaginal elasticity, decreased sexual frequency, and sexual dysfunction.
Yu-Xuan Lin and the team conducted a study that aimed to assess how vaginal dilation therapy affects vaginal condition and sexual function in cervical cancer survivors lacking timely dilation.
About 139 patients underwent a 6-month course of vaginal dilation therapy. We assessed changes in vaginal elasticity, diameter, and length, as well as sexual function pre- and post-therapy. Vaginal conditions were gauged using custom molds and sexual function via the Female Sexual Function Index. Data analysis utilized SPSS 25.
The results showed that age, vaginal diameter, and pre-diagnosis sexual intercourse frequency correlated significantly with post-cancer treatment female sexual dysfunction. Vaginal dilation therapy enhanced vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function universally; however, it had no significant effect on vaginal elasticity or sexual dysfunction incidence.
Factors significantly associated with the change in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score pre- and post-therapy included pre-diagnosis sexual intercourse frequency, vaginal elasticity, time interval from last treatment, and treatment modalities. Patients with a time interval from the last treatment of less than 24 months or moderate to good vaginal elasticity benefited more from vaginal dilation therapy.
The study concluded that vaginal dilation therapy benefits cervical cancer survivors regardless of prior treatment methods. Additionally, initiating therapy promptly post-cancer treatment is recommended.
The authors disclose that they did not receive any funds, grants, or other support during the preparation of this manuscript.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38466132/
Lina YX, Zhao FF, Kong WM, et al. (2024) “Effects of vaginal dilation therapy on vaginal length, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors.”
J Obstet Gynaecol. 2024 Dec;44(1):2317387. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2024.2317387. Epub 2024 Mar 11. PMID: 38466132.
