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Study · Systematic review · 2023

6 results

The efficacy of oxytocin gel in postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Farahat RA, Salamah HM, Mahmoud A, Hamouda E, Hashemy M, Hamouda H, Samir A, Chenfouh I, Marey A, Awad DM, Farag E, Abd-Elgawad M, Eldesouky E

BMC women's health16 Sept 2023Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID37716966 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10505316 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s12905-023-02645-0 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37716966
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Summary

BackgroundGenitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a common and disturbing issue in the postmenopausal period. Unlike vasomotor symptoms, it has a progressive trend. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases on January 18, 2023. Keywords such as "oxytocin," "intravaginal," "vaginal," "atrophic," and "atrophy" were used. We used Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4 in our analysis. We used the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes; both were presented with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) and were calculated with the Mantel-Haenszel or inverse variance statistical method. Cochrane's Q test and the I2 statistic were used as measures of statistical inconsistency and heterogeneity. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for RCTs was used for the quality assessment of the included studies.ResultsSeven studies with 631 patients were included. Regarding the maturation index, there was a statistically insignificant increase in the oxytocin arm (MD = 12.34, 95% CI (-12.52-37.19), P = 0.33). Clinically assessed vaginal atrophy showed a statistically significant reduction in the oxytocin group (RR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.23 - 0.10), P < 0.00001). For dyspareunia, vaginal pH, and histological evaluation of vaginal atrophy, there was a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups (RR = 1.02, 95% CI (0.82-1.27), P = 0.84), (MD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.58-0.10), P = 0.08), and (MD = -0.38, 95% CI (-0.82-0.06), P = 0.09), respectively. There was no significant difference in the safety profile between the two groups as measured by endometrial thickness (MD = 0.00, 95% CI (-0.23-0.23), P = 0.99).ConclusionsAlthough oxytocin has been proposed as a viable alternative to estrogen in the treatment of GSM, our findings show the opposite. Larger, high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm or refute our results.Trial registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42022334357.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel increased the maturation index, but the difference from placebo gel was not statistically significant.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel did not significantly change the vaginal maturation index compared with placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeMaturation index
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Regarding the maturation index, there was a statistically insignificant increase in the oxytocin arm (MD = 12.34, 95% CI (-12.52-37.19), P = 0.33).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel significantly reduced clinically assessed vaginal atrophy compared with placebo gel.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel reduced clinically assessed vaginal atrophy more than placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseClinically assessed vaginal atrophy
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Clinically assessed vaginal atrophy showed a statistically significant reduction in the oxytocin group (RR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.23 - 0.10), P < 0.00001).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel did not significantly change dyspareunia compared with placebo gel.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel did not significantly change painful intercourse compared with placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeDyspareunia
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    For dyspareunia, vaginal pH, and histological evaluation of vaginal atrophy, there was a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups (RR = 1.02, 95% CI (0.82-1.27), P = 0.84), (MD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.58-0.10), P = 0.08), and (MD = -0.38, 95% CI (-0.82-0.06), P = 0.09), respectively.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel did not significantly change vaginal pH compared with placebo gel.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel did not significantly change vaginal pH compared with placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeVaginal pH
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    For dyspareunia, vaginal pH, and histological evaluation of vaginal atrophy, there was a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups (RR = 1.02, 95% CI (0.82-1.27), P = 0.84), (MD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.58-0.10), P = 0.08), and (MD = -0.38, 95% CI (-0.82-0.06), P = 0.09), respectively.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.
  5. 05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel did not significantly change the histological evaluation of vaginal atrophy compared with placebo gel.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel did not significantly change tissue-level signs of vaginal atrophy compared with placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeHistological evaluation of vaginal atrophy
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Vaginal and urogenital health · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    For dyspareunia, vaginal pH, and histological evaluation of vaginal atrophy, there was a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups (RR = 1.02, 95% CI (0.82-1.27), P = 0.84), (MD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.58-0.10), P = 0.08), and (MD = -0.38, 95% CI (-0.82-0.06), P = 0.09), respectively.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.
  6. 06HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In a meta-analysis of postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, oxytocin gel did not significantly change endometrial thickness compared with placebo gel.

    In plain wordsIn postmenopausal women, oxytocin gel did not significantly change endometrial thickness compared with placebo gel.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeEndometrial thickness
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo gel
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There was no significant difference in the safety profile between the two groups as measured by endometrial thickness (MD = 0.00, 95% CI (-0.23-0.23), P = 0.99).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin gel versus placebo gel in postmenopausal women with GSM.
    Summary · context
    Seven studies with 631 patients were included.

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

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. 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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