SynthesisInternational journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics2026
Hyaluronic acid for vaginal health and quality of life in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPostmenopausal women often experience genitourinary symptoms that affect the quality of life (QoL), including dryness in vaginal, atrophy and sexual dysfunction. Pharmacists, as frontline healthcare practitioners, are essential in advising on safe and effective non-hormonal alternatives such as hyaluronic acid (HA); yet, its effects on tolerance and QoL have not been extensively assessed via meta-analysis.
methodsWe conducted a prospective systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of HA in improving QoL among postmenopausal women. Only prospective, parallel-group or single-group RCTs were included; no retrospective, cohort, case-control, or non-randomized studies were considered. Eleven studies meet the inclusion criteria in two evidence tiers: placebo-controlled RCTs for primary outcomes and comparative studies. Primary results were vaginal dryness-related QoL and female sexual function index. Vaginal health index (VHI) and tolerability/safety were designated as secondary outcomes. The risk of bias and GRADE assessments were applied.
resultsThree placebo-controlled RCTs showed significant improvements in VHI, vaginal dryness-related QoL, and FSFI (with standardized mean difference [SMD] = 3.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.73 to 4.06; P < 0.00001, SMD = -0.98, 95% CI: -1.24 to -0.71; P < 0.00001, and SMD = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.20; P < 0.00001), respectively. In comparative studies, HA was not found to be inferior to active comparators. No serious adverse events were reported (relative risk = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.10 to 1.23; P = 0.10), with moderate heterogeneity (I
conclusionHyaluronic acid is a safe and effective non-hormonal treatment for vulvovaginal discomfort in postmenopausal women, with moderate-quality evidence supporting its benefits for sexual function and QoL. While these findings are encouraging, the variability between research emphasizes the need for more standardized formulations, treatment protocols, and long-term evaluations.
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.