Efficacy of Non-Ablative Radiofrequency on Vaginal and Sexual Health in Postmenopausal Women

NCT ID: NCT06925139

Last Updated: 2025-04-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

58 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-04-15

Study Completion Date

2025-06-15

Brief Summary

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This study will test if non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency can help improve vaginal tissue and reduce symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in postmenopausal women. The study is a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. The study will examine the impact of the treatment on sexual function, vaginal health, and quality of life over an extended period. There will be two groups in the study: one will receive the non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency treatment, and the other will receive the placebo treatment. Participants will have six treatment sessions and will be checked at the start, end, and three months post-treatment.

Detailed Description

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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency (RF) treatment in improving vaginal tissue regeneration and alleviating symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in postmenopausal women. This double-blind, randomized clinical trial will include two groups: one receiving the active RF treatment and the other receiving a placebo treatment. The study will include six treatment sessions for each participant, with evaluations conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and three months post-treatment.

Participants will be postmenopausal women who have experienced more than one year of amenorrhea and exhibit symptoms of GSM, such as vaginal dryness, irritation, and sexual dysfunction. The primary outcome measures will include improvements in vaginal health assessed through clinical examination and patient-reported outcomes related to sexual function and quality of life.

Secondary outcome measures will involve the analysis of vaginal pH, the maturation index of vaginal epithelial cells, and any adverse events reported during the study. The intervention involves the use of a non-ablative monopolar RF device applied intracavitarily. The placebo group will undergo the same procedure without the active RF component.

The study is conducted in accordance with ethical standards and has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Clinical Research with Medicines of the City of Toledo. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the treatment in comparison to the placebo, and results will contribute to the understanding of non-ablative RF treatments in menopausal health.

Conditions

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Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Vaginal Health Sexual Dysfunction

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This study is a double-blind, randomized clinical trial with two parallel groups. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the treatment group receiving non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency and the placebo group receiving a sham procedure. Both participants and researchers are blinded to group assignments to ensure unbiased results. The study includes six treatment sessions for each participant, with evaluations conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and three months post-treatment.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, participants, investigators analyzing the results, and outcomes assessors are all blinded to the group assignments. This ensures unbiased administration of treatments, unbiased data collection, and unbiased assessment of both primary and secondary outcomes.

Study Groups

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Treatment Group

6 treatment sessions of non-ablative radiofrequency, with a frequency of 1 session per week. The following protocol will be followed: Preparation (5 minutes): Resistive monopolar electrode applied to vulvar area with gradual heating (sensation 4-5/10).

Main Phase (15 minutes): Intracavitary capacitive electrode used to reach and maintain 40-42°C for at least 10 minutes.

Final Phase (5 minutes): Repeat resistive electrode application with subthermal effect (sensation 3-4/10).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency treatment

Intervention Type DEVICE

Protocol for the experimental group:

Tissue preparation phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying slow circular or semicircular movements in the perineal area. The temperature will be gradually increased based on the patient's temperature perception, ensuring it remains comfortable (approximately 5 out of 10).

Main phase: 10 minutes using the intracavitary capacitive electrode connected to the PLUMA handle, lightly resting it on the tissues and continuously moving the electrode. The temperature should reach 40-42°C in the tissue and be maintained for at least 10 minutes.

Final phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying it similarly to the preparatory phase, with a subthermal effect, reaching a self-reported thermal sensation of 3 to 4 out of 10.

Protocol for the sham group: this group will receive the same treatment protocol that treatment group, but without the application of heat.

Placebo Group

Participants in this group will receive the same treatment protocol, but without the application of heat.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency treatment

Intervention Type DEVICE

Protocol for the experimental group:

Tissue preparation phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying slow circular or semicircular movements in the perineal area. The temperature will be gradually increased based on the patient's temperature perception, ensuring it remains comfortable (approximately 5 out of 10).

Main phase: 10 minutes using the intracavitary capacitive electrode connected to the PLUMA handle, lightly resting it on the tissues and continuously moving the electrode. The temperature should reach 40-42°C in the tissue and be maintained for at least 10 minutes.

Final phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying it similarly to the preparatory phase, with a subthermal effect, reaching a self-reported thermal sensation of 3 to 4 out of 10.

Protocol for the sham group: this group will receive the same treatment protocol that treatment group, but without the application of heat.

Interventions

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Non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency treatment

Protocol for the experimental group:

Tissue preparation phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying slow circular or semicircular movements in the perineal area. The temperature will be gradually increased based on the patient's temperature perception, ensuring it remains comfortable (approximately 5 out of 10).

Main phase: 10 minutes using the intracavitary capacitive electrode connected to the PLUMA handle, lightly resting it on the tissues and continuously moving the electrode. The temperature should reach 40-42°C in the tissue and be maintained for at least 10 minutes.

Final phase: 5 minutes with the circular resistive monopolar electrode, applying it similarly to the preparatory phase, with a subthermal effect, reaching a self-reported thermal sensation of 3 to 4 out of 10.

Protocol for the sham group: this group will receive the same treatment protocol that treatment group, but without the application of heat.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age between 40 and 65 years.
* Postmenopausal women (defined as no menstrual period for at least 12 months).
* Experiencing symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), such as vaginal dryness, irritation, or discomfort.
* Experiencing discomfort or complaints during vaginal penetration. Engaging in sexual activity (at least once a month).
* Willing to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

* Presenting with active vaginal infections.
* Presence of neurological, neoplastic, or sexually transmitted diseases.
* Presenting with vulvodynia or vaginismus.
* Prolapse grade 2 or higher.
* Presenting with altered sensitivity in the pelvic area.
* Being a pacemaker carrier or having any device that contains batteries.
* Hormonal treatment with estrogens in the last 3 months.
* History of radiotherapy in the pelvic area.
* Recent pelvic surgery (within the last 6 months).
* Being on anticoagulant treatment.
* Having undergone laser treatment in the pelvic area or ablative vaginal rejuvenation in the last 6 months.
* Cognitive impairment that prevents answering the questionnaires.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Castilla-La Mancha

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Claudia Quezada Bascuñán, Ms

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Castilla-La Mancha

Asunción Ferri Morales, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Castilla-La Mancha

Locations

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University of Castilla-La Mancha

Toledo, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Naumova I, Castelo-Branco C. Current treatment options for postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. Int J Womens Health. 2018 Jul 31;10:387-395. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S158913. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30104904 (View on PubMed)

Potter N, Panay N. Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers: a review into use, efficacy, and safety. Climacteric. 2021 Feb;24(1):19-24. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1820478. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32990054 (View on PubMed)

Wiegerinck AIP, Thomsen A, Hisdal J, Kalvoy H, Tronstad C. Electrical Impedance Plethysmography Versus Tonometry To Measure the Pulse Wave Velocity in Peripheral Arteries in Young Healthy Volunteers: a Pilot Study. J Electr Bioimpedance. 2021 Dec 30;12(1):169-177. doi: 10.2478/joeb-2021-0020. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35111272 (View on PubMed)

Shifren JL, Crandall CJ, Manson JE. Menopausal Hormone Therapy. JAMA. 2019 Jun 25;321(24):2458-2459. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.5346. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31145419 (View on PubMed)

Roy S, Caillouette JC, Roy T, Faden JS. Vaginal pH is similar to follicle-stimulating hormone for menopause diagnosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 May;190(5):1272-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2003.12.015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15167829 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND

Tan O, Bradshaw K, Carr BR. Management of vulvovaginal atrophy-related sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women: an up-to-date review. Menopause. 2012 Jan;19(1):109-17. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e31821f92df.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22011753 (View on PubMed)

Sarmento ACA, Costa APF, Vieira-Baptista P, Giraldo PC, Eleuterio J Jr, Goncalves AK. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Epidemiology, Physiopathology, Clinical Manifestation and Diagnostic. Front Reprod Health. 2021 Nov 15;3:779398. doi: 10.3389/frph.2021.779398. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36304000 (View on PubMed)

Takahashi TA, Johnson KM. Menopause. Med Clin North Am. 2015 May;99(3):521-34. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25841598 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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MEN_RF_01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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