To assess the feasibility of a combined hypnotic relaxation and vaginal moisturizer intervention targeting improvements in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), sexual desire, and body image among female breast cancer survivors.
Approach:
Intervention: Participants applied vaginal moisturizer daily for the first two weeks, then every other day for the next six weeks. The HRI group performed hypnotic relaxation three times weekly during weeks 3-8.
Key Findings:
All participants completed the study with high adherence rates (92% for HRI, 90% for VMO).
Improvements in sexual desire, body image, and GSM-related outcomes were observed in both groups.
Change-score effects favored HRI over VMO for sexual interest (d = 0.37) and body image (d = 0.42).
FSFI lubrication showed a large effect increase (d = 1.50), while pain decreased significantly (d = 0.81).
Interpretation:
The pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of combining hypnotic relaxation and vaginal moisturizer for addressing sexual health issues in female breast cancer survivors, with promising effects on body image and sexual function.
Limitations:
Small sample size limits generalizability.
The study was not adequately powered to confirm findings.
Conclusion:
The combined use of hypnotic relaxation and vaginal moisturizer appears promising for enhancing sexual function and body image in breast cancer survivors, warranting further investigation in larger studies.
