Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel
Vulvovaginal symptoms affect up to 39% of women. These symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life and are often linked to imbalances in the vaginal microbiota. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of a zinc-containing hydroxyethyl cellulose-based hydrogel in 37 women with differe...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Gels |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/3/214 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849343203523690496 |
|---|---|
| author | Dávid Rátonyi Barbara Kozma Attila G. Sipos Zoárd Tibor Krasznai Bence Kozma Peter Takacs |
| author_facet | Dávid Rátonyi Barbara Kozma Attila G. Sipos Zoárd Tibor Krasznai Bence Kozma Peter Takacs |
| author_sort | Dávid Rátonyi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vulvovaginal symptoms affect up to 39% of women. These symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life and are often linked to imbalances in the vaginal microbiota. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of a zinc-containing hydroxyethyl cellulose-based hydrogel in 37 women with different vulvovaginal symptoms (itching, burning, irritation, pain, dryness, discharge, and odor). Over 12 weeks, participants applied the gel intravaginally with both assessments conducted at baseline and follow-ups. Results revealed substantial improvements in symptoms, including reductions in vaginal discharge, itching, and burning, as measured by the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ-21), with scores decreasing from 10.78 ± 3.66 at baseline to 3.17 ± 4.16 at week 12 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Vaginal Health Index (VHI) scores improved significantly, from 20.78 ± 1.74 at baseline to 23.64 ± 2.59 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) zinc levels decreased from 110 ± 102 µg/L at baseline to 62 ± 48 µg/L at week 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01), increased to 80 ± 55 µg/L at week 8 (<i>p</i> = 0.04), and reached 99 ± 92 µg/L by week 12 (NS). A correlation analysis showed an inverse relationship between baseline CVL zinc levels and VSQ-21 scores (r = −0.3586, <i>p</i> = 0.034), while no significant correlation was observed with VHI scores (r = −0.0187, <i>p</i> = 0.9545). Vaginal pH levels decreased significantly, dropping from 4.03 ± 0.42 to 3.71 ± 0.48 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). These findings support the gel’s role as an effective, nonhormonal, drug-free, and local adjunct treatment for a variety of vulvovaginal symptoms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8cdc2ab46fd450f88415869e84d1e91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8cdc2ab46fd450f88415869e84d1e912025-08-20T03:43:03ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-03-0111321410.3390/gels11030214Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal HydrogelDávid Rátonyi0Barbara Kozma1Attila G. Sipos2Zoárd Tibor Krasznai3Bence Kozma4Peter Takacs5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDivision of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 526, Norfolk, VA 23507-2007, USAVulvovaginal symptoms affect up to 39% of women. These symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life and are often linked to imbalances in the vaginal microbiota. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of a zinc-containing hydroxyethyl cellulose-based hydrogel in 37 women with different vulvovaginal symptoms (itching, burning, irritation, pain, dryness, discharge, and odor). Over 12 weeks, participants applied the gel intravaginally with both assessments conducted at baseline and follow-ups. Results revealed substantial improvements in symptoms, including reductions in vaginal discharge, itching, and burning, as measured by the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ-21), with scores decreasing from 10.78 ± 3.66 at baseline to 3.17 ± 4.16 at week 12 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Vaginal Health Index (VHI) scores improved significantly, from 20.78 ± 1.74 at baseline to 23.64 ± 2.59 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) zinc levels decreased from 110 ± 102 µg/L at baseline to 62 ± 48 µg/L at week 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01), increased to 80 ± 55 µg/L at week 8 (<i>p</i> = 0.04), and reached 99 ± 92 µg/L by week 12 (NS). A correlation analysis showed an inverse relationship between baseline CVL zinc levels and VSQ-21 scores (r = −0.3586, <i>p</i> = 0.034), while no significant correlation was observed with VHI scores (r = −0.0187, <i>p</i> = 0.9545). Vaginal pH levels decreased significantly, dropping from 4.03 ± 0.42 to 3.71 ± 0.48 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). These findings support the gel’s role as an effective, nonhormonal, drug-free, and local adjunct treatment for a variety of vulvovaginal symptoms.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/3/214zinc-containing hydrogelvulvovaginitisvaginal healthnon-hormonal treatmentlocal treatment |
| spellingShingle | Dávid Rátonyi Barbara Kozma Attila G. Sipos Zoárd Tibor Krasznai Bence Kozma Peter Takacs Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel Gels zinc-containing hydrogel vulvovaginitis vaginal health non-hormonal treatment local treatment |
| title | Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel |
| title_full | Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel |
| title_fullStr | Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel |
| title_short | Improving Vaginal Health with a Zinc-Containing Vaginal Hydrogel |
| title_sort | improving vaginal health with a zinc containing vaginal hydrogel |
| topic | zinc-containing hydrogel vulvovaginitis vaginal health non-hormonal treatment local treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/3/214 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidratonyi improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel AT barbarakozma improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel AT attilagsipos improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel AT zoardtiborkrasznai improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel AT bencekozma improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel AT petertakacs improvingvaginalhealthwithazinccontainingvaginalhydrogel |