{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,11]],"date-time":"2026-07-11T03:03:40Z","timestamp":1783739020927,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,22]],"date-time":"2024-07-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1721606400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Postmenopausal dyspareunia and vulvar pain are common complaints, affecting about 60% of women within a few years after hormone levels begin to decline (such as estrogen and androgen). Atrophic changes mainly located in the vulvar vestibule and vulnerability to vulvovaginal infections in postmenopause could be predisposing factors to the development of vulvar burning\/pain and introital dyspareunia (vestibulodynia secondary to atrophy). Tibolone is the most effective and safe alternative for treating menopausal symptoms. The role of Lactobacilli and lactoferrin shows its effectiveness in the treatment of vaginal microbiota dysbiosis. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of the combination of tibolone and an oral-specific Lactobacilli mixture in combination with bovine lactoferrin as synergistic therapy for the treatment of vestibulodynia related to atrophy. Methods: In this study, we included 35 postmenopausal women with at least 1 year of amenorrhea, affected by vulvar burning\/pain and introital dyspareunia. All participants received treatment with open-label, oral Tibolone 2.5 mg and Lactobacilli mixture (5 \u00d7 109 CFU per capsule) in combination with bovine lactoferrin (Respecta\u00ae). Each product was taken once daily for 90 days. Results: After 90 d of therapy with TIB+ Respecta\u00ae, in 30 women that completed the treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease from the baseline in the mean of the Visual Analog Scale for vulvar burning\/pain and a reduction in scores in the pain evaluation test. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the combination of TIB+ Respecta\u00ae was effective in reducing symptoms related to vestibular pain and hypersensitivity in a postmenopausal setting.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16142378","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,22]],"date-time":"2024-07-22T17:36:04Z","timestamp":1721669764000},"page":"2378","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Effectiveness of Combination of Tibolone and Lactobacilli Plus Lactoferrin in Postmenopausal Women with Vulvar Vestibular Pain: A Preliminary Report"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Vincenzo","family":"De Leo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Office \u201cColledoro\u201d, 53100 Siena, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5610-9548","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Governini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rosetta","family":"Ponchia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dario","family":"Recalcati","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital, University of the Study of Milan, 20124 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Filippo","family":"Murina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit, V. Buzzi Hospital, University of the Study of Milan, 20124 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ogc.2006.09.003","article-title":"Dyspareunia","volume":"33","author":"MacNeill","year":"2006","journal-title":"Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. N. Am."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Valovska, A.T. (2016). Dyspareunia and Vulvodynia. Pelvic Pain Management, Oxford University Press. 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