This prospective, randomised double-blind and placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial involved 216 post-menopausal women. The aim was to study the effect of DHEA when administered vaginally on the signs and symptoms of vaginal atrophy. The researchers found that all three daily doses of DHEA (0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) resulted in significant and beneficial changes in the percentage of vaginal parabasal and superficial cells, pH and symptoms at two weeks and again at 12 weeks. The study concluded that the administration of DHEA resulted in rapid and efficient reversal of the symptoms and signs of vaginal atrophy with either no or minimal changes in the levels of steroid in serum.
