Recruiting

Vaginal hormone treatment to restore health after pelvic cancer radiation

Plain-English translation of NCT07407647 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a medication called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), applied as a vaginal treatment, to help restore vaginal health in women who have finished radiation therapy for cancers of the pelvis or lower digestive tract. Radiation can damage vaginal tissue and cause long-term discomfort and sexual dysfunction. This study will see whether the medication is safe, well-tolerated, and whether it helps restore the healthy bacteria that naturally live in the vagina.

Radiation therapy for gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers can cause serious, lasting damage to vaginal tissue, leading to pain, dryness, and sexual dysfunction that significantly affects quality of life. There is a need for treatments that can help repair this damage and restore vaginal health after cancer treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with anal, rectal, cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancer and completed radiation therapy with curative intent
you are postmenopausal, defined as age over 50 with no menstrual period for at least 12 months, or have had both ovaries surgically removed
you are willing to use a vaginal medication once daily for three months and provide vaginal swab samples throughout the study
you have not received any prior pelvic radiation therapy before this cancer treatment
you can be enrolled before starting cancer treatment but will not receive the study medication until after radiation therapy is complete

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, lupus, or breast cancer
you are currently taking or have recently taken oral estrogen, vaginal estrogen products, or other hormone treatments (timing varies by type)
you have endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, or unexplained abnormal vaginal bleeding
you are receiving palliative (comfort-focused) radiation therapy rather than treatment aimed at curing your cancer

What participation looks like

You will apply the medication vaginally once daily for three months after completing your radiation therapy. Throughout the study, you will have vaginal swab samples collected at different time points to examine the healthy bacteria in your vagina. The study will also track any changes in your vaginal health, sexual function, and overall quality of life to see how the medication affects you.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 18, 2026 · Not medical advice

Vaginal hormone treatment to restore health after pelvic cancer radiation

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)