Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for symptomatic women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase.

OBJECTIVE: There is uncertainty whether treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) decreases menopausal symptoms for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. A previous systematic review considering this subject suggested that DHEA may slightly improve sexual function compared with placebo (CS. Scheffers, S. Armstrong, AEP. Cantineau, C. Farquhar, V. Jordan Dehydroepiandrosterone for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD011066. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011066.pub2). The purpose of this article is to review recent research investigating whether the use of DHEA, and in particular intravaginal DHEA (Prasterone®), improves sexual function. METHODS: We conducted an online search using Medline OVID for recent articles related to DHEA and menopause. We found 48 relevant publications, out of which 14 papers were original research, all related to the development and licensing of intravaginal DHEA. We critically analysed these 14 articles in relation to sexual function. RESULTS: All the randomised controlled trials assessed the efficacy of vaginal DHEA in women with vulvovaginal atrophy and showed that sexual dysfunction improved with treatment regardless of the level of dyspareunia at baseline. Treatment with DHEA was found to be superior to placebo and at least as efficacious as vaginal oestrogens in improving symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intravaginal DHEA appears to be a safe and effective treatment for menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy and dyspareunia in most women. Further studies are required before it can be recommended for women with a history of thrombosis, cardiovascular disease or hormone-sensitive neoplasms.

Offering extended use of the combined contraceptive pill: a survey of specialist family planning services.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes to, and provision of, extended regimens for taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) by specialist contraception practitioners from three contrasting specialist contraception services in London. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was administered to all doctors and nurses, who counsel, provide, or prescribe the oral contraceptive pill at each clinic. RESULTS: A total of 105 clinicians received the questionnaire and 67 (64%) responded. Only one of three clinics initiated and maintained guidelines for extended COC use. In that service, 60% of staff prescribing COC advised more than 50% of patients regarding alternative COC regimens. In the other two services, this was discussed with 20% and 6% of patients, respectively (P < 0.001). The reasons for prescribing extended use included cyclic headaches, menorrhagia, patient request, menstrual-related cramps, and endometriosis, and did not differ between the three different settings. The most common extended regimens were 63 pills or continuous use until bleeding occurs, followed by a hormone-free interval. Concerns highlighted by providers and patients were "unhealthy not to have a monthly bleed", "future fertility", and "breakthrough bleeding". Such comments highlight the need for further information for providers and patients. CONCLUSION: There is growing evidence, backed by national guidance, about extended COC use, but routine provision of this information is patchy and varies ten-fold, even within specialist family planning services. Targeted training, use of service guidelines, and implementation research will be needed to extend patient choice of different COC regimens and change clinical practice.

Randomized trial of the effect of tailored versus standard use of the combined oral contraceptive pill on continuation rates at 1 year.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest from women and clinicians in extended or tailored use of the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill. Potential advantages include less bleeding, greater contraceptive efficacy and user satisfaction. We examined the effect of a tailored pill regimen, compared with the standard regimen, on continuation and satisfaction rates at 1 year and associated bleeding patterns. STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial with 503 women aged 18-45 years. Women were randomized to either the standard regimen (21 daily pills followed by a 7-day pill-free interval) or tailored regimen (daily pills until three consecutive days bleeding triggers a 3-day pill-free interval) of Microgynon 30® (ethinyl oestradiol 30 mcg, levonorgestrel 150 mcg). Primary outcome was COC continuation at 12 months; secondary outcomes included satisfaction with pill regimen regarding contraception and bleeding pattern. Daily electronic diaries were used to record women's pill use, switching to other contraceptive methods, menstrual bleeding patterns and satisfaction levels. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent of women were already taking the COC at recruitment, 13% were restarting the COC and 4% were first time COC users. Seventy-one percent of all women were followed up at 12 months. Continuation rates at 1 year were 82% in the tailored arm versus 80% in the standard arm [odds ratio (OR)=1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.67-1.91]. Satisfaction with contraceptive regimen was 86% (tailored) versus 94% (standard) (OR=0.37; 95% CI=0.17-0.79), and satisfaction with bleeding pattern was 79% versus 87%, respectively (OR=0.53; 95% CI=0.30-0.93). Median number of bleeding days per month was 2.4 (tailored) and 4.9 (standard). Incidence, duration and intensity of bleeding episodes were significantly lower in the tailored arm. CONCLUSIONS: In women familiar with standard use of the COC, switching to tailored COC use or continuing with standard use were both associated with high COC continuation rates and high satisfaction with contraceptive regimen and bleeding pattern. While significant differences tended to favor the standard group, tailored COC use was associated with significantly less bleeding, suited some women very well and can provide a suitable alternative to standard use.

Do women requesting only contraception find attendance at an integrated sexual health clinic more stigmatizing than attendance at a family planning-only clinic?

PURPOSE: Both sexually transmitted infections and the genitourinary medicine clinics that patients attend for management of sexually transmitted infections are stigmatized by patients' perceptions. The aim of this study was to assess whether women requesting contraception only find attendance at an integrated sexual health clinic (ISHC) more stigmatizing than attendance at a family planning (FP)-only clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women requesting contraception only were asked to complete a stigma assessment questionnaire in the waiting room of the clinic they attended. Ease of understanding was assessed for each item of the questionnaire prior to commencement of the survey. The questionnaire was given to women attending either an ISHC or a FP-only clinic. RESULTS: One hundred questionnaires that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were returned. The users of FP-only services were generally older than the users of ISHCs and were more likely than the users of ISHCs to classify themselves as UK white. Stigma perception was significantly higher for the ISHC than the FP-only clinic. CONCLUSION: The results of this research indicate that among women who request contraception only, perceived stigma is higher when they attend an ISHC than when they attend a FP-only clinic. As this survey only enrolled clinic users, the authors were unable to assess whether integration generates sufficient stigma to deter some women from accessing contraception from integrated services. Of all stigma-related issues, disclosure concerns are likely to be the most important to the service user. Stigma is not an issue of overriding concern for most service users.