Effectiveness of vaginal adelmidrol for treating pelvic visceral discomforts and anxiety: a prospective observational study.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to show that self-assessed anxiety in patients with pelvic visceral discomforts is reduced after the intravaginal administration of adelmidrol.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients who described themselves as anxious (scoring 5 or more in a 1 to 10 scale in a self-assessment test) and who suffered from pelvic visceral discomfort (during defecation, urination, sexual intercourse and menstruation) were enrolled in the study. Pelvic visceral discomforts were assessed using a questionnaire in which patients were asked to assign a score between 1 and 10 according to intensity. The patients were offered intravaginal adelmidrol therapy (2%, 4.5 mL twice a day for 30 days). The patients were interviewed again and asked to self-assess anxiety and pelvic visceral discomfort at the end of therapy.

RESULTS: 12 patients underwent adelmidrol therapy. With the exception of urinary discomfort, all the median scores of pelvic visceral discomforts had improved after 30 days, with significant values achieved for menstruation (P=0.013) and sexual intercourse (P=0.013). Anxiety had also decreased after 30 days (P=0.025), regardless of changes in discomfort levels.

CONCLUSION: Adelmidrol could selectively modulate the visceral nociceptive pathways (interoception), relieving pelvic discomfort. This action should have an independent effect on anxiety responses.