What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the benefits and harms of various vaginal dilation methods for women who have received pelvic radiotherapy for cancer.
What They Found
This systematic review found no eligible studies that compared different vaginal dilation methods after pelvic radiotherapy. Consequently, the researchers could not analyze any data or draw conclusions about the effectiveness or harms of these therapies. They noted some excluded studies that suggested no clear benefit for dilation therapy in improving sexual scores or when compared to vibration therapy.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian women undergoing pelvic radiotherapy, this review highlights a significant gap in research regarding the effectiveness of vaginal dilator therapy to prevent vaginal narrowing. Patients and their healthcare providers currently lack strong evidence to guide decisions about using these therapies, which can be uncomfortable.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers Health Canada-recognized indications, such as delayed radiation injury, osteoradionecrosis, radiation cystitis, and radiation proctitis, which can result from pelvic radiotherapy.
Study Limitations
The primary limitation of this systematic review is the complete absence of eligible randomized controlled trials or comparative studies on vaginal dilation therapy after pelvic radiotherapy.