Breast Cancer, Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy, and Sexual Functioning: The Effects of Vaginal Testosterone Therapy

Early Phase 1CompletedNCT01697345

Creighton University12 enrolled

Overview

It is well documented that women who have breast cancer may experience a decrease in quality of life and sexual functioning due to side effects from adjuvant endocrine therapy, typically aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Women taking AIs are more likely to report unpleasant urogenital and vaginal symptoms due to the physiologic suppression of estradiol. This treatment can impair sexual functioning and cause a decreased sexual health quality of life. At the present time, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications for the vulvovaginal or sexual side effects related to the use of AIs. The lack of treatment options is concerning because the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer continues to increase; their longevity, also, continues to increase with the use of newer adjuvant chemotherapies. Local health care practitioners have observed that the benefits of vaginal testosterone for sexual health in breast cancer survivors are similar to the benefits of vaginal estrogen in women without breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of using a daily compounded vaginal testosterone cream for 4 weeks (28 days) on breast cancer survivor's reported experience of vulvovaginal symptoms accompanying the use of AIs and their associated quality of life and sexual functioning.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Breast Cancer Vaginal Dryness

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 50 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Women with breast cancer * Currently taking an aromatase inhibitor (AI) * Age \> 50 years of age * Postmenopausal, or two years since last menstrual cycle * Urogenital/vulvovaginal symptoms such as vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse * Changes in sexual health quality of life/sexual functioning since starting AI therapy Exclusion Criteria: * The use of other treatments for breast cancer such as chemotherapy or radiation within the past 12 months * A known sensitivity to medications containing testosterone * The use of exogenous hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the past three months, including systemic and local estrogen or testosterone therapy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Score

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was administered to participants prior to starting vaginal testosterone therapy and the survey was repeated after using the study drug for 4 weeks. The participants served as their own controls. The FSFI assesses six domains of sexual functioning (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) over the past 4 weeks. The sum of all domain scores equals the total FSFI score. The total FSFI score ranges from 2-36 and a total FSFI score \< 26.5 suggests female sexual dysfunction.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Desire Domain

The desire score is calculated by adding the individual scores from the desire domain (question #1 and #2) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.6. The domain score for desire ranges from 1.2 (minimum) to 6 (maximum) and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Arousal Domain

The arousal score is calculated by adding the individual scores from the arousal domain (question #3, #4, #5, #6) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.3. The arousal domain score ranges from 0 (minimum) to 6 (maximum)and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Lubrication Domain

The lubrication score is calculated by adding the individual scores from the lubrication domain (question #7, #8, #9, #10) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.3. The domain score for lubrication ranges from 0 (minimum) to 6 (maximum) and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Orgasm Domain

The orgasm score is calculated by adding the individual scores from the orgasm domain (question #11, #12, #13) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.4. The domain score for orgasm ranges from 0 (minimum) to 6 (maximum) and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Satisfaction Domain

The satisfaction score is calculated by adding the individual scores from the satisfaction domain (question #14, #15, #16) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.4. The satisfaction domain score ranges from 0.8 (minimum) to 6 (maximum) and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

FSFI Pain Domain

The score for pain is calculated by adding the individual scores from the pain domain (question #17, #18, #19) and multiplying the sum by the domain factor of 0.4. The domain score for pain ranges from 0 (minimum) to 6 (maximum) and a higher value represents a better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Number of Participants Who Continued Vaginal Testosterone Upon Completion of the Study

Time frame: After 4 weeks

Breast Cancer, Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy, and Sexual Functioning: The Effects of Vaginal Testosterone Therapy

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes