Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: NICOLI SERQUIZ DE AZEVEDO

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : NICOLI SERQUIZ DE AZEVEDO
DATE: 01/06/2026
TIME: 10:30
LOCAL: PPGCSa - SALA 1
TITLE:

RESTORING VAGINAL HEALTH IN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: A RANDOMIZED, SHAM-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF MICROABLATIVE FRACTIONAL RADIOFREQUENCY

KEY WORDS:

Breast Neoplasms, Cancer Survivors, Menopause, Atrophic Vaginitis, Radiofrequency Therapy

PAGES: 13
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Medicina
SUMMARY:

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of vaginal microablative fractional radiofrequency (RF) versus sham treatment in breast cancer survivors with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

Methods: This prospective, single-blind, randomised, sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted from February to December 2025. Eligible breast cancer survivors with GSM were randomly assigned to receive vaginal microablative fractional RF or sham treatment. Follow-up assessments occurred one month post-intervention. The primary outcome was sexual function assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and symptom severity (dyspareunia, dysuria, vaginal dryness) measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included vaginal health assessed by Vaginal Health Index (VHI), composition of the vaginal microbiota (Nugent score); vaginal maturation index (VMI); Quality of life using a Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and urinary symptoms assessed by self-administered questionnaires of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – ICIQ-UI and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB). Within-group changes were analyzed using paired Student’s t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Sixty women (mean age 49.6 ± 6.9 years), mostly with treatment-induced menopause (75%) and luminal breast cancer (83.3%), were included. In the microablative fractional RF group, significant improvements were observed in vaginal pH, VHI, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness (all p < .001), while FSFI scores remained unchanged (p=0.132) and dysuria (p = 0.004). In the sham group, modest improvements were noted in FSFI (p = 0.002), dyspareunia (p < .001), dysuria (p < .001), and vaginal dryness (p = 0.007), but no significant changes occurred in vaginal pH (p = 0.083) or VHI (p = 0.625). Between-group comparisons showed greater improvements in the effects of microablative fractional RF on objective vaginal health parameters.

Conclusions: Vaginal microablative fractional RF is a safe and effective non-hormonal therapy for improving GSM related symptoms and vaginal health in breast cancer survivors. However, no significant improvement in sexual function was observed, likely reflecting its multifactorial nature. These findings support the need for multimodal strategies and further studies.

Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec): RBR-2ntr3yd

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1199080 - ANA KATHERINE DA SILVEIRA GONCALVES DE OLIVEIRA
Interna - 2495705 - GRASIELA PIUVEZAM
Externa ao Programa - 2786809 - MARIA THEREZA ALBUQUERQUE BARBOSA CABRAL MICUSSI - UFRN