ReviewClimacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society2016
Treating vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause: how important is vaginal lubricant and moisturizer composition?
Review in Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 73 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Clinical Trial to Survey Results of Flourish Vaginal Care System for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis
RF-Vaginale : Randomised Phase III Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Vaginal Radiofrequency in the Management of Vulvovaginal Atrophy and Dryness in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer
Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Let's talk about sex: consensus guidelines of the GINECOR working group of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology: clinical recommendations after pelvic radiotherapy.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2025Guideline
- Interventions Preventing Vaginitis, Vaginal Atrophy after Brachytherapy or Radiotherapy Due to Malignant Tumors of the Female Reproductive Organs-A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2021Pooled it
- Impact of vertical versus horizontal vaginal cuff closure on vaginal length following hysterectomy: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.International urogynecology journal · 2019Pooled it
- Objective evaluation of the acute effects of pelvic floor muscle training on vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled pilot study.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2026Trial
- Impact of Topical Interventions on the Vaginal Microbiota and Metabolome in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Effects of Group and Individual Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depression and Sexual Satisfaction among Perimenopausal Women.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Trial
- The effect of oxytocin vaginal gel on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.BMC women's health · 2020Trial
- Efficacy of Vaginal Estradiol or Vaginal Moisturizer vs Placebo for Treating Postmenopausal Vulvovaginal Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA internal medicine · 2018Trial
- Impact of Ospemifene on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Young Survivors of Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Study.BioMed research international · 2017Trial
- Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause from the Italian Society of Menopause (SIM) and Italian Society of Gynecology of the Third Age (SIGiTE).Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Article
- Management of surgical menopause in female patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.Nature reviews. Urology · 2026Review
- Modern methods of treating vaginal dryness and atrophy.Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2026Review
- Rose Stem Cell-Derived Exosome-Hyaluronic Acid Therapy for Recurrent Atrophic Vaginitis: A Case Report.Cureus · 2026Article
- Case-Based Perspectives on the Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.Clinics and practice · 2026Review
- Reproductive Longevity: Innovative Approaches Beyond Hormone Replacement Therapy.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Review
- Prevalence of Amsel-Defined Bacterial Vaginosis Before and After Transvaginal Ultrasound With Lubricant Application.Sexually transmitted diseases · 2025Article
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Vaginal dryness is a common condition that is particularly prevalent during and after the menopause, and is one of the symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The impact of vaginal dryness on interpersonal relationships, quality of life, daily activities, and sexual function can be significant, but is frequently underestimated. Furthermore, barriers exist to treatment-seeking, and this condition is often underreported and undertreated. Greater education about vaginal dryness and the range of available treatments is essential to encourage more women to seek help for this condition. Personal lubricants and moisturizers are effective at relieving discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse for women with mild to moderate vaginal dryness, particularly those who have a genuine contraindication to estrogen, or who choose not to use estrogen. However, there is a distinction between lubricants and moisturizers, and notable differences between commercially available products. Women should be advised to choose a product that is optimally balanced in terms of both osmolality and pH, and is physiologically most similar to natural vaginal secretions. A series of recommendations for the use of vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, either on their own or in combination with systemic or topical hormone replacement therapy, is presented.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.