ascorbic-acid and Dyspareunia

We previously suggested that women with endometriosis have increased oxidative stress in the peritoneal cavity. To assess whether antioxidant supplementation would ameliorate endometriosis-associated symptoms, we performed a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins E and C) in women with pelvic pain and endometriosis. Fifty-nine women, ages 19 to 41 years, with pelvic pain and history of endometriosis or infertility were recruited for this study. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: vitamin E (1200 IU) and vitamin C (1000 mg) combination or placebo daily for 8 weeks before surgery. Pain scales were administered at baseline and biweekly. Inflammatory markers were measured in the peritoneal fluid obtained from both groups of patients at the end of therapy. Our results indicated that after treatment with antioxidants, chronic pain ("everyday pain") improved in 43% of patients in the antioxidant treatment group (P = 0.0055) compared with the placebo group. In the same group, dysmenorrhea ("pain associated with menstruation") and dyspareunia ("pain with sex") decreased in 37% and 24% patients, respectively. In the placebo group, dysmenorrhea-associated pain decreased in 4 patients and no change was seen in chronic pain or dyspareunia. There was a significant decrease in peritoneal fluid inflammatory markers, regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (P ≤ 0.002), interleukin-6 (P ≤ 0.056), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (P ≤ 0.016) after antioxidant therapy compared with patients not taking antioxidants. The results of this clinical trial show that administration of antioxidants reduces chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis and inflammatory markers in the peritoneal fluid.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascitic Fluid; Ascorbic Acid; Chemokine CCL2; Chemokine CCL5; Dysmenorrhea; Dyspareunia; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-6; Oxidative Stress; Pain Measurement; Pelvic Pain; Translational Research, Biomedical; Vitamin E; Young Adult

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial cause of cervicitis.. The aim of this randomised, double-blind trial was to compare the effect of vitamin C on dyspareunia and vaginal discharge in women receiving doxycycline and triple sulfa for chlamydial cervicitis.. Eighty women with increased anti-C. trachomatis IgM, reporting abnormal vaginal discharge and dyspareunia, demonstrating signs of cervical oedema and erythema and friability of cervix were included. Thirty-nine women received doxycycline capsules 100 mg twice daily plus triple sulfa vaginal cream once daily for ten days, and 41 received doxycycline capsules 100 mg twice-daily and triple sulfa vaginal cream once daily plus vitamin C tablets 250 mg once daily for ten days. Women were evaluated at follow-up visit, eleventh day, following completion of intervention.. The effect of treatment was assessed regarding clinical criteria (presence of endocervical mucopus and cervical severity score) and presence of dyspareunia. Statistical analysis was carried out using spss version 11.5.. The mean age of women was 30.6 +/- 8.4 years. There was no relationship between demographics and dyspareunia and discharge (P > 0.05). There was statistically significant difference between the effect of 'doxycycline plus triple sulfa' and 'doxycycline, triple sulfa plus vitamin C' on discharge and dyspareunia (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). Most frequently reported drug-related adverse event in both groups was heartburn.. Adding vitamin C to doxycycline and triple sulfa was more efficient than standard regimen (doxycycline and triple sulfa without vitamin C) in treating chlamydial cervicitis.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Chlamydia Infections; Double-Blind Method; Doxycycline; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dyspareunia; Female; Humans; Sulfadiazine; Sulfamerazine; Sulfamethazine; Uterine Cervicitis; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; Vaginal Discharge; Young Adult