Study Evaluates Vaginal Dilation Therapy for Cervical Cancer Survivors

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. Recent study aimed to assess the impact of vaginal dilation therapy (VDT) on vaginal length, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity, and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors who had not received timely dilation therapy. The study involved 139 patients who received 6 months of VDT.

Vaginal conditions were assessed using customised vaginal molds, and sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The findings revealed that factors such as age, vaginal diameter, and sexual intercourse frequency before diagnosis were significantly associated with female sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment. VDT improved vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function in all patients, but did not significantly improve vaginal elasticity. Additionally, the study found that patients with a time interval from the last treatment of less than 24 months or those with moderate or good vaginal elasticity benefitted more from VDT.

The study confirmed that cervical cancer survivors can experience vaginal condition deterioration and sexual dysfunction after treatment. VDT was effective in improving vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function, benefiting patients irrespective of the treatment methods they received. The findings also suggested that VDT should be performed promptly after cervical cancer treatment, with patients benefiting more if the therapy is provided earlier. The study also highlighted the need for developing countries to pay more attention to the sexual issues of cervical cancer survivors in clinical practice and to perform VDT promptly after treatment. The research used a prospective, uncontrolled, monocentric interventional study design.

The study was approved by the Science and Technology Division of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study revealed that after 6 months of VDT, patients experienced improvements in vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function, with VDT being more effective in patients with a time interval from the last treatment of less than 24 months or those with moderate or good vaginal elasticity. Furthermore, the study observed that the frequency of sexual intercourse in cervical cancer survivors before and after VDT was significantly lower than that before the diagnosis of the disease. It was found that the quality of the relationship with sexual partners can help decrease the incidence of female sexual dysfunction.

The study had some limitations, including a relatively short follow-up period of only 6 months and the absence of a control group. However, the findings emphasized the importance of VDT in improving the vaginal length, stenosis, and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors, highlighting the significance of providing timely VDT, especially in developing countries. In conclusion, the study provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of VDT for cervical cancer survivors and emphasized the importance of prompt VDT after treatment. The findings of the study have important implications for clinical practice and underscore the need to address the sexual issues of cervical cancer survivors, particularly in developing countries.

Key Points

1. The study aimed to assess the impact of vaginal dilation therapy (VDT) on vaginal length, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity, and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors. 139 patients who had not received timely dilation therapy participated in the study and received 6 months of VDT. The evaluation involved customised vaginal molds for assessing vaginal conditions and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for evaluating sexual function.

2. The findings indicated that age, vaginal diameter, and sexual intercourse frequency before diagnosis were significantly associated with female sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment. VDT was found to improve vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function in all patients, but it did not significantly improve vaginal elasticity. Patients with a time interval from the last treatment of less than 24 months or those with moderate or good vaginal elasticity benefitted more from VDT.

3. The study confirmed that cervical cancer survivors can experience vaginal condition deterioration and sexual dysfunction after treatment. VDT was effective in improving vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function, benefitting patients irrespective of the treatment methods they received.

4. The research used a prospective, uncontrolled, monocentric interventional study design and was approved by the Science and Technology Division of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. The study revealed that after 6 months of VDT, patients experienced improvements in vaginal stenosis, length, and sexual function, with VDT being more effective in patients with a time interval from the last treatment of less than 24 months or those with moderate or good vaginal elasticity.

5. The study observed that the frequency of sexual intercourse in cervical cancer survivors before and after VDT was significantly lower than that before the diagnosis of the disease. The quality of the relationship with sexual partners was found to help decrease the incidence of female sexual dysfunction.

6. The study emphasized the importance of VDT in improving the vaginal length, stenosis, and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors, highlighting the significance of providing timely VDT, especially in developing countries. The findings have important implications for clinical practice and underscore the need to address the sexual issues of cervical cancer survivors, particularly in developing countries. The study suggests that VDT should be performed promptly after cervical cancer treatment.

Reference –

Yu-Xuan Lin, Fei-Fei Zhao & Wei-Min Kong (2024) Effects of vaginal

dilation therapy on vaginal length, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity and sexual functionof cervical cancer survivors, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 44:1, 2317387, DOI:

10.1080/01443615.2024.2317387