Vaginal Testosterone Propionate with Misoprostol Prior to Removal of Intrauterine Devices in Postmenopausal Women

ObjectiveTo explore and investigate a new treatment of releasing the risks and pain in removing intrauterine devices (IUD) from postmenopausal women.MethodsTotally 240 postmenopausal women who needed to remove IUD were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A (n=80) were preoperatively treated with 20 g/L vaginal testosterone propionate cod liver oil ointment (1 g/d) over a 2-week span of period, and vaginal misoprostol (200 μg) was one-time used at 2–3 h before operation. Group B (n=80) were treated with oral estradiol valerate (3 mg/d) from 7 d before operation. Other 80 women (group C) were treated with vaginal cod liver oil ointment (1 g/d) over a 2-week span of period before the operation day. The degree of cervical relaxation, operational difficulty, blood loss volume, the length of operation time and visual analogue scales (VAS) were evaluated, also the serum estradiol, testosterone and endometrial thickness were measured before and after medication.ResultsThe degree of cervical relaxation, operational difficulty, blood loss, the length of operation time and VAS in group A were significantly better than those group C (P<0.01), whiles its blood loss volume was less than group B (P<0.05) and there were no significant differences in serum estradiol, testosterone and endometrial thickness before and after medication.ConclusionPreoperative vaginal testosterone propionate combined with misoprostol would reduce the operational difficulties/risks and release the suffering of patients. The study may represent a safe and effective alternative to remove IUD in postmenopausal women.