The effect of oxytocin vaginal gel on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

Zohrabi I, Abedi P, Ansari S, Maraghi E, Shakiba Maram N, Houshmand G

BMC women's health19 May 2020Cited by 12 (Europe PMC)

PMID32429977PMCIDPMC7236919DOI10.1186/s12905-020-00935-5PepBankPUB-32429977

Summary

BackgroundAround 90% of postmenopausal women are suffering from vaginal atrophy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oxytocin vaginal gel on vaginal atrophy among postmenopausal women.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy. The inclusion criteria were: literate women, age 40-60, at least 1 year passed from their last menstrual period or the level of FSH > 40 IU, monogamous women with the sexual relationship. Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night. The subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy, vaginal PH, maturation index were measured before and after the intervention.ResultsThe number of superficial cells was increased significantly in the oxytocin group compared to placebo (38.7 ± 7.18 vs. 3.69 ± 2.76, p = 0.0001), while the number of parabasal cells was decreased significantly in the oxytocin compared to placebo after the intervention. The improvement of the maturation index was more dominant in the oxytocin group (increased from 7.76 ± 4.68 to 52.48 ± 7.54) in comparison to the placebo group (increased from 8.58 ± 4.35 to 13.25 ± 5.06). The PH of the vagina decreased significantly in the oxytocin group in comparison to the placebo group (p = 0.0001). After 8 weeks, 88.6 and 7.1% of women in the oxytocin and placebo groups did not show the severe symptoms of vaginal atrophy (p = 0.001).ConclusionThe results of this study showed that eight- week intervention with oxytocin vaginal gel (400 IU) could significantly improve the vaginal maturation index, subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy and reduce the PH of the vagina. Using this medication in women who have a contraindication for hormone therapy is recommended.Trial registrationIRCT20160602028220N2.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, oxytocin vaginal gel increased the number of superficial cells more than placebo.
In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, oxytocin vaginal gel raised the number of superficial vaginal cells more than placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseSuperficial cell count (vaginal maturation index)
Study
n = 96
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
400 IU once per night · vaginal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The number of superficial cells was increased significantly in the oxytocin group compared to placebo (38.7 ± 7.18 vs. 3.69 ± 2.76, p = 0.0001)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy.
Summary · context
Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3242997701
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, oxytocin vaginal gel decreased the number of parabasal cells more than placebo.
In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, oxytocin vaginal gel lowered the number of parabasal vaginal cells more than placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseParabasal cell count (vaginal maturation index)
Study
n = 96
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
400 IU once per night · vaginal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
while the number of parabasal cells was decreased significantly in the oxytocin compared to placebo after the intervention.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy.
Summary · context
Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3242997702
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, the maturation index improved more with oxytocin gel than with placebo.
In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, the vaginal maturation index improved more with oxytocin gel than with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseMaturation index
Study
n = 96
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
400 IU once per night · vaginal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The improvement of the maturation index was more dominant in the oxytocin group (increased from 7.76 ± 4.68 to 52.48 ± 7.54) in comparison to the placebo group (increased from 8.58 ± 4.35 to 13.25 ± 5.06).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy.
Summary · context
Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3242997703
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, vaginal pH fell more with oxytocin gel than with placebo.
In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, vaginal pH fell more with oxytocin gel than with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseVaginal pH
Study
n = 96
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
400 IU once per night · vaginal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The PH of the vagina decreased significantly in the oxytocin group in comparison to the placebo group (p = 0.0001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy.
Summary · context
Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3242997704
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, 88.6% of the oxytocin group and 7.1% of the placebo group had no severe symptoms after 8 weeks.
In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, more women using oxytocin gel than placebo had no severe symptoms after 8 weeks.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseProportion without severe vaginal atrophy symptoms at 8 weeks
Study
n = 96
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
400 IU once per night · vaginal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Women without severe symptoms
88.6%
oxytocin
Women without severe symptoms
7.1%
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
After 8 weeks, 88.6 and 7.1% of women in the oxytocin and placebo groups did not show the severe symptoms of vaginal atrophy (p = 0.001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women who suffered from vaginal atrophy.
Summary · context
Women in the intervention group, requested to use one applicator of 400 IU oxytocin gel per night and women in the placebo group used placebo each night.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3242997705

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 stopped early · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

TerminatedPhase 2/3NCT05627791

Effects of Vaginal Oxytocin Gel on Vaginal Cytologic Parameters in Postmenopausal Woman

Department of Medical Services Ministry of Public Health of Thailandn = 630 Nov 2022 to 28 Aug 2023

Vaginal Atrophy · Oxytocin Gel · Postmenopausal Women · Vaginal Maturation Index

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 31 Aug 2023

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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