Skip to content
← Study library

NCT01539317 · REGISTRY CONDITION SEARCH

Therapy to Prevent Sexual Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors

Found through the registry condition index, not selected as a treatment recommendation. This discovery collection was restricted to studies with posted results.

Phase
PHASE3
Status at capture
COMPLETED
Registry last update
2017-04-14

The purpose of this protocol is to determine whether pain with sexual intercourse can be reduced in menopausal, breast cancer survivors and to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-hormonal therapy (Lidocaine Liquid) vs. a placebo liquid in reducing pain. The investigators hypothesize that the pain arises in the vulvar vestibule. The investigators predict that the localized use of lidocaine will be more efficacious than use of placebo liquid.

Open the original ClinicalTrials.gov record → · Download preserved record

What did the study report?

Outcomes, safety and baseline populations are separate source sections. Quality-of-life measures appear under their original outcome titles.

Who could take part
eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria 1. Women aged 18 to 70 years old. 2. Has a previous diagnosis of breast cancer (ductal or lobular carcinoma, invasive). 3. 1 year from diagnosis of breast cancer. 4. Stable heterosexual partnership =/\>5 years or by investigator discretion. 5. More than 6 months of consistent insertional pain with intercourse (may have stopped having intercourse due to this consistent experience of pain). 6. Menopausal, demonstrated by at least one of the following: i. cessation of menses for 1 years ii. Bilateral oophorectomy iii. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level \>25 in women below age 50 with an ovary and scarred or absent uterus (acceptable FSH levels can be inferred if the woman's oncologist monitors FSH during aromatase inhibitor therapy). 7. Willingness to enter a study comparing a topical placebo liquid to topical liquid lidocaine. 8. Willingness to evaluate the liquids by use of a tampon test as many as 4 times per month, and willingness to attempt intercourse if the tampon test indicates tolerable penetrative pain. 3.2 Exclusion Criteria 1. Diagnosis of benign or malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast. 2. Consistently has pain in the pelvis or low abdomen during or after intercourse (deep dyspareunia). 3. Has developed shrinkage of the vaginal opening or vaginal length to the point of being too small to succeed in having vaginal penetration with the partner (will also be assessed at the clinical exam). 4. Partner has a problem of sexual dysfunction limiting his performance or making it inconsistent. 5. The potential subject or her partner has a serious current medical condition that might interrupt completion of a 6 month study. 6. Potential subject has been diagnosed by a physical therapist with significant pelvic floor muscle dysfunction causing pain (pelvic floor myalgia). 7. Potential subject has used topical or systemic estrogen within the last 4 months. 8. Has continued tenderness of vestibule mucosa immediately after application of both test liquids. 9. Allergy to lidocaine or other numbing agents.
healthy Volunteers
false
maximum Age
70 Years
minimum Age
18 Years
sex
FEMALE
std Ages
  1. ADULT
  2. OLDER_ADULT
Treatment arms and interventions
arm Groups
  1. intervention Names
    1. Drug: Topical liquid lidocaine
    2. Drug: Topical saline
    label
    Topical liquid lidocaine
    type
    ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
  2. intervention Names
    1. Drug: Topical liquid lidocaine
    2. Drug: Topical saline
    label
    Topical Saline
    type
    PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
interventions
  1. arm Group Labels
    1. Topical Saline
    2. Topical liquid lidocaine
    description
    active intervention drug numbs the hypersensitive mucosa of the vulvar vestibule
    name
    Topical liquid lidocaine
    type
    DRUG
  2. arm Group Labels
    1. Topical Saline
    2. Topical liquid lidocaine
    description
    saline applied to the vestibule mucosa will not reverse the local tenderness
    name
    Topical saline
    other Names
    1. water
    type
    DRUG
Study design
allocation
RANDOMIZED
intervention Model
CROSSOVER
masking Info
masking
DOUBLE
who Masked
  1. PARTICIPANT
  2. INVESTIGATOR
primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Enrollment
count
50
type
ACTUAL
Registered outcome plans (not posted results)
primary Outcomes
  1. description
    Mean intercourse pain reported by subjects using the Numerical Rating Scale pain ratings (range 0-10, 0 being "no pain" and 10 being "worst possible pain"). Testing was during weeks 0-4 (Phase II) (with blinded randomization for placebo vs active intervention medication) and testing was during weeks 5-12 (Phase III) (with open-label active medication for 8 weeks after completing the blinded 4 weeks). Subjects agreed to try penetration twice per week and score their pain using the Numerical Rating Scale pain ratings.The scores were averaged during each phase.
    measure
    Prevention of Entry Dyspareunia With Non-hormonal Therapy
    time Frame
    During Phase II (0-4 weeks) and during Phase III (5-12 weeks)
  2. description
    To determine the specific site of vulvovaginal tenderness in menopausal breast cancer survivors who have entry dyspareunia. Examine the vulvar vestibule with a swab test to determine locations and severity of touch tenderness. Eight sites were evaluated around the vaginal opening and there location was in reference to a clock face. Measured using the Numerical Rating Scale, a scale which measures pain from 0 to 10 with 0="no pain" and 10="the worst pain you have ever felt".
    measure
    Location of Pain in Postmenopausal Dyspareunia
    time Frame
    Enrollment visit
secondary Outcomes
  1. description
    To determine whether women's quality of sexual life is improved by use of this local therapy to prevent pain with intercourse. Measured by average scores on the Sexual Function Questionnaire. There are 8 domains measured in the Sexual Function Questionnaire each asking for a score for the prior 30 days: Desire (score range 5-31; ≥23 considered normal function), Arousal-sensation (score range 4-20; ≥14 considered normal function), Arousal-lubrication (score ranges 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Arousal-cognitive (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Orgasm (score range 1-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Pain (2-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Enjoyment (score range 6-30; ≥23 considered normal function) and Partner (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function).
    measure
    Improvement of Quality of Sexual Life - Visit 1
    time Frame
    Visit 1 (Enrollment)
  2. description
    To determine whether women's quality of sexual life is improved by use of this local therapy to prevent pain with intercourse. Measured by averaged scores on the Sexual Function Questionnaire. There are 8 domains measured in the Sexual Function Questionnaire each asking for a score for the prior 30 days: Desire (score range 5-31; ≥23 considered normal function), Arousal-sensation (score range 4-20; ≥14 considered normal function), Arousal-lubrication (score ranges 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Arousal-cognitive (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Orgasm (score range 1-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Pain (2-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Enjoyment (score range 6-30; ≥23 considered normal function) and Partner (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function).
    measure
    Improvement of Quality of Sexual Life - Visit 2
    time Frame
    Visit 2 (Week 4)
  3. description
    To determine whether women's quality of sexual life is improved by use of this local therapy to prevent pain with intercourse. Measured by average scores on the Sexual Function Questionnaire. There are 8 domains measured in the Sexual Function Questionnaire each asking for a score for the prior 30 days: Desire (score range 5-31; ≥23 considered normal function), Arousal-sensation (score range 4-20; ≥14 considered normal function), Arousal-lubrication (score ranges 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Arousal-cognitive (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function), Orgasm (score range 1-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Pain (2-15; ≥12 considered normal function), Enjoyment (score range 6-30; ≥23 considered normal function) and Partner (score range 2-10; ≥8 considered normal function).
    measure
    Improvement of Quality of Sexual Life - Visit 3
    time Frame
    Visit 3 (End of Study)
Full study description
brief Summary
The purpose of this protocol is to determine whether pain with sexual intercourse can be reduced in menopausal, breast cancer survivors and to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-hormonal therapy (Lidocaine Liquid) vs. a placebo liquid in reducing pain. The investigators hypothesize that the pain arises in the vulvar vestibule. The investigators predict that the localized use of lidocaine will be more efficacious than use of placebo liquid.
detailed Description
For this study there will be three visits over a 3 month period. Subjects will undergo a gynecological exam at the screening visit to determine the severity of pain associated with uncomfortable intercourse. A touch test using Q-tips will be used during screening exam so subjects can report pain during application of both study drug and placebo. Subjects will also report pain during tampon test. A sample of vaginal cells and liquid will be obtained at screening visit so that PI can rule out possible infection, disease, or disorders. PI will also show subject the area of the vestibule in a mirror so that subject can apply study drug at home properly. Subjects will fill out 4 questionnaires about medical and health history, cancer history, pain, and distress and sexual activity. Subject will be given a supply of either study drug or placebo to take home. The first visit will last approximately 2 hours. Subjects will return for a second visit after 4 weeks and a third visit after 8 weeks for diary review, questionnaires, and examination. The second and third visit examinations will be repeats of the examination done at the first visit, but there will be no comparison with placebo, the PI will use only study drug during the touch test. The second and third visits will last approximately 1 hour. Subjects will fill out questionnaires throughout study participation. Topics include; medical and health history, cancer history, pain, distress and sexual activity. Subjects will also fill out a diary that charts tampon test completed from home, sexual activity performed, pain levels and study drug application days.
Source references
references
  1. citation
    Goetsch MF, Lim JY, Caughey AB. A Practical Solution for Dyspareunia in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Oct 20;33(30):3394-400. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.60.7366. Epub 2015 Jul 27.
    pmid
    26215946
    type
    DERIVED
  2. citation
    Goetsch MF, Lim JY, Caughey AB. Locating pain in breast cancer survivors experiencing dyspareunia: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Jun;123(6):1231-1236. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000283.
    pmid
    24807329
    type
    DERIVED
see Also Links
Source notices and limitations
    Discovery and provenance
    1. release id
      ctgov-registry-1336d216cbd1bbff780dac70
      edge id
      nct-edge-510365c08afcaef18fa9
      requested nct id
      NCT01539317
      primary nct id
      NCT01539317
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source file sha256
      b6710ff985346052b92134d475e1f6f9b2a9bbb7c87d1a3d83093a5921deff50
      payload sha256
      1b5229cd1266c732e5366e47a09c47738608a355620f06c4419365bb05ee2d9a
      payload
      clinical indication matching status
      condition_index_match_asserted_by_registry_not_reviewed
      end exclusive
      true
      id
      nct-edge-510365c08afcaef18fa9
      link basis
      returned_by_explicit_condition_and_posted_results_filter_query
      nct id
      NCT01539317
      occurrences
      1. context exact
        NCT01539317
        end
        11
        exact text
        NCT01539317
        start
        0
      offset unit
      unicode_code_points
      query cond
      Vaginal Cancer
      query disease state id
      ds-vaginal-cancer
      source file
      /Users/arunverma/Documents/ChatGPT/Cancer Statistics Website/research-data/2026-09-10/clinicaltrials-condition/round-0000/raw/cond-vaginal-cancer-000.json
      source file sha256
      b6710ff985346052b92134d475e1f6f9b2a9bbb7c87d1a3d83093a5921deff50
      source json pointer
      /studies/55/protocolSection/identificationModule/nctId
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source string basis
      parsed_JSON_string_unmodified
      source string sha256
      f584330190e96cf810a86bb6e77c4e8ff64983241a9dc2c7f691d0f95da0562f
    2. release id
      ctgov-registry-1336d216cbd1bbff780dac70
      edge id
      nct-edge-8792a77ae2d382642874
      requested nct id
      NCT01539317
      primary nct id
      NCT01539317
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source file sha256
      9c84fe83f9fcdb12f3a6bb624863442db2afcee53df61c38a03e4f013f7f76a1
      payload sha256
      6cede91ca7d1c0a5d45274eae718159eeebfa47d9afbbba0af83bb4b80eca7d9
      payload
      clinical indication matching status
      condition_index_match_asserted_by_registry_not_reviewed
      end exclusive
      true
      id
      nct-edge-8792a77ae2d382642874
      link basis
      returned_by_explicit_condition_and_posted_results_filter_query
      nct id
      NCT01539317
      occurrences
      1. context exact
        NCT01539317
        end
        11
        exact text
        NCT01539317
        start
        0
      offset unit
      unicode_code_points
      query cond
      Vulvar Cancer
      query disease state id
      ds-vulvar-cancer
      source file
      /Users/arunverma/Documents/ChatGPT/Cancer Statistics Website/research-data/2026-09-10/clinicaltrials-condition/round-0000/raw/cond-vulvar-cancer-000.json
      source file sha256
      9c84fe83f9fcdb12f3a6bb624863442db2afcee53df61c38a03e4f013f7f76a1
      source json pointer
      /studies/36/protocolSection/identificationModule/nctId
      source kind
      ctgov_condition_query
      source record id
      Source null
      source string basis
      parsed_JSON_string_unmodified
      source string sha256
      f584330190e96cf810a86bb6e77c4e8ff64983241a9dc2c7f691d0f95da0562f

    Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice