Clinical Research Directory

At-Home Neuromodulation for Female Sexual Dysfunction

This pilot study investigates the regular use of non-invasive dorsal genital nerve stimulation (DGS) for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The researchers aim to determine whether subjects with FSD can correctly follow an at-home treatment regimen and to demonstrate that DGS can improve FSD arousal symptoms in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Some subjects will use a smart vibrator for comparison to DGS.

Supporting Sexual Recovery in Women With Bladder Cancer

This study looks at how bladder cancer and removing the bladder can affect women's sexual well-being. Bladder cancer can be more serious in women, and treatment like bladder removal can impact how they feel about themselves and their relationships. Women who've gone through this say it's important to talk about and get support for their sexual recovery. The study has three main parts. First, it reviews what is already known. Next, it involves talking to women with bladder cancer and the doctors and nurses who care for them. Finally, the team will use what they learn to create a toolkit to help healthcare workers support women's sexual recovery. Women with bladder cancer are helping to design this study. Their input shapes the questions and tools. The final toolkit will include training for doctors and nurses and be shared online and through charities. The aim is to make this part of regular healthcare.

Late Side-effects After Cervical Cancer Treatment - Prevention and Treatment

Late side-effects following gynecological cancer are predominantly symptoms from the pelvic region originating from the bowels, urinary tract, lymphatic system, genitals and musculoskeletal system. Pelvic floor dysfunctions such as urinary- and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal stenosis as well as compromised sexual function and dyspareunia appear to be highly prevalent. The incidence of gynecological cancer in Norway was 1700 in 2020 and the survival rate in Norway is among the highest in the world. Most women with cervical cancers are treated with curative intension and life expectancy at 5 years after diagnosis is \>80%. A negative impact of pelvic floor disorders on psychosocial well-being and quality of life are seen in survivors of gynecological cancer, and in cancer survivors this is found to be directly linked with patients regaining continence. Pelvic floor muscle training has few or no side effects, and is acknowledged as first line treatment for all types of urinary incontinence in women. Even though less studied, there is evidence to support pelvic floor muscle training as a safe intervention to reduce symptoms of anal incontinence and improve sexual function. A recent comparative cross-sectional study found that survivors of gynecological cancer with dyspareunia had higher stiffness and lower flexibility, coordination and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles compared to women with a history of total hysterectomy but no pelvic pain. These findings suggest a possible role for pelvic floor muscle training in the prevention and treatment of pelvic floor disorders after gynecological cancer. However, the overall quality of evidence for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles to reduce symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions after treatment of gynecological cancer is low. This study aims to assess the feasibility of a digital pelvic floor rehabilitation programme led by an experienced pelvic floor physiotherapist. Study subjects are women treated for cervical cancer within the past 5 years, and all included participants will receive the intervention due to the feasibility design. Participants will be assessed clinically at baseline and endpoint, partly to ensure proper pelvic floor muscle contraction. The digital intervention ensures residents in rural areas equal access to specialized pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Sexual Effects of Transdermal or Vaginal Testosterone

The aim of the study is to elucidate the role of testosterone treatment in postmenopausal women's sexual function and their therapeutic safety.

Female Sexual Dysfunction Assessment and Managment of Vaginismus

The study aims at : 1. The extent female sexual dysfunction problem in community through questionnaire . 2. Compare effectiveness of two treatment options for vaginismus .

Effect of Intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA Injection Versus Conservative Management on Female Sexual Function in Patients With Bladder Pain Syndrome

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is estimated to affect 3.3 to 7.9 million women aged 18 years and older in the United States. The American Urological Association (AUA) defines IC/BPS as "an unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than six weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes". IC/BPS significantly impacts quality of life, with the individual domains of sexual function, anxiety and depression, sleep quality and work productivity being specifically affected. Significant sexual dysfunction in women with IC/BPS has been consistently demonstrated across multiple international studies, with a prevalence ranging from 68% to 91%. In fact, among all patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, patients with a diagnosis of IC/BPS had the highest levels of impaired sexual function, mostly due to dyspareunia. Recommended treatments for IC/BPS include dietary and behavioral modifications, oral medications, bladder instillations, bladder hydrodistension, intradetrusor injection of onabotulinumtoxinA and major surgery. Scant research exists on how treating IC/BPS affects sexual function. We are conducting a prospective cohort study to assess for improvement in sexual function following intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injection versus conservative management for IC/BPS. The study will consist of three groups: intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injection, conservative management and age-matched, healthy controls. All patients aged 18 years and older presenting to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Urogynecology clinic who are given a diagnosis of IC/BPS and have an O'Leary Sant index questionnaire scoring 13 or greater will be eligible for the study. The primary study outcome is change in the pre- and 12-week post-treatment Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The secondary outcomes will include changes in the pre- and post-treatment O'Leary Sant index, Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S), Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, IUGA-Revised (PISQ-IR), Visual analog pain scale and 24-hour bladder diary (number of daily voids, number of nightly voids, incontinence episode). Adverse events will be monitored, including urinary tract infection or need for urinary catheterization due to urinary retention within 12 weeks of start of treatment. The age-matched, healthy control group will complete only one set of questionnaires to serve as a baseline comparison to the IC/BPS groups. For between-groups comparisons, a sample size of 49 per group will have 80% power to detect a clinically important difference of 4 points if the standard deviation is 7 points, assuming a 5% two-sided significance level. We will therefore recruit 55 subjects per group to allow for approximately 10% attrition between the pre- and post-treatment assessments. This study will be powered to detect a difference between treatments groups, which has not yet been reported in the literature.

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of BZ371A in Women with Sexual Arousal Disorder

To determine the efficacy in increasing sexual arousal, safety and tolerability of BZ371A in gel form applied to women with sexual arousal disorder.