Treatment of women with genitourinary syndrome of the menopause with application of vaginal hyaluronic acid cream

The onset of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is related to the drop of estrogen occurring in women during menopause and it is characterized by the involution of the mucous membranes and tissues of the vulva and vagina. GSM is associated with a significant deterioration of quality of life (QoL) and sexual function and sexual implications may affect >50% of postmenopausal women. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural polysaccharide representing an important part of the extra-cellular matrix of the skin and cartilage. This single centre, retrospective cohort study evaluated the application of HA vaginal cream for 12 months in 51 postmenopausal women with GSM. After the end of the treatment, the large majority of patients treated were satisfied. All GSM-related symptoms and QoL scores significantly improved at the same time-point. Moreover, sexual function as measured with female sexual function index (FSFI) as well as overall satisfaction with sexual life were significantly ameliorated by HA treatment among who reported sexual activity at baseline. Overall, this study demonstrated the efficacy of long-treatment with HA vaginal cream for improving disease-related symptoms, sexual function and QoL in a population of postmenopausal women with GSM.