Women's preferences toward attributes of local estrogen therapy for the treatment of vaginal atrophy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Decreased estrogen production due to menopause is often associated with vaginal atrophy, and estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment for the management of this condition. This study investigated women's preferences relating to various aspects of local estrogen therapy (LET) for the treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy.

STUDY DESIGN:

The study involved 423 women aged >50 years who were resident in Sweden, had experienced menopausal changes in and around the vagina, and had used LET for these changes. The women completed an online questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The questionnaire involved a discrete choice experiment to determine women's willingness to pay for different characteristics of therapy. Time of LET appliance, use of disposable applicators with small tablets compared with both dosing syringes with vaginal cream and vagitories, and therapy that did/did not cause smudges/leakage were all considered.

RESULTS:

The women had no significant preference as to the time of day LET should be used. However, quantifying other preferences suggested that respondents were willing to pay € 66.58 or € 60.32 per month extra for using disposable applicators with small tablets rather than dosing syringes with vaginal cream or vagitories, respectively, and to avoid smudges/leakage.

CONCLUSIONS:

This survey suggests that women may prefer using disposable applicators with small tablets to deliver LET and value therapy that does not cause smudges/leakage. It is possible that if women are able to use their preferred form of LET, improved uptake or adherence of such medication may enhance the management of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy.

• Authors: Lars-Åke Mattsson, Åsa Ericsson, Mette Bøgelund, Ricardo Maamari
• Journal: Maturitas (Maturitas) Vol. 74 Issue 3 Pg. 259-63 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1873-4111 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 23312488 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Drug Carriers
• Estrogens
• Tablets
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

Topics

• Aged
• Atrophy
• Attitude to Health
• Disposable Equipment
• Drug Carriers
• Dyspareunia (drug therapy)
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy (instrumentation, methods)
• Estrogens (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Health Care Costs
• Humans
• Menopause
• Middle Aged
• Patient Preference
• Postmenopause
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Syringes
• Tablets
• Vagina (drug effects, pathology)
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Vaginal Diseases (drug therapy)