Increased innervation of the vulval vestibule in patients with vulvodynia.
P Tympanidis, G Terenghi, P Dowd
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12786836/Actively Recruiting
Led by Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders · Updated on 2026-03-18
54
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
21 weeks
Total Duration
Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of topical ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream in adult women diagnosed with secondary provoked vestibulodynia PVD, a chronic vulvar pain condition causing burning or sharp pain during vaginal penetration or touch. This Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to explore a new non-surgical treatment option targeting neuroinflammation and abnormal nerve growth in the vulvar vestibule, conditions that currently lack FDA-approved pharmacologic therapies. Participants will first undergo a 1-week screening followed by a 2-week single-blind placebo run-in period. Those who do not respond strongly to placebo or have intolerance to the vehicle cream will be randomized in a 11 ratio to receive either ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream or a matching placebo cream. Both creams are applied twice daily to the vulvar vestibule for 12 weeks. The study includes visits at baseline, Week 3 randomization, Week 9, and Week 15, with a 30-day safety follow-up after treatment. Throughout the study, participants will complete pain and functional assessments including an 11-point pain rating scale during vaginal dilator testing, vulvodynia-specific questionnaires, and pressure pain threshold measurements. Researchers will monitor safety through physical exams, vital signs, pregnancy testing, and documentation of adverse events and local reactions. Study cream adherence is tracked via tube weights and self-reports. The primary outcome measures change in pain intensity at Week 15 compared to baseline, with secondary outcomes assessing quality of life, pain thresholds, and participant-reported meaningful benefit.
CONDITIONS
Topical Ketotifen 0.25% for Secondary Vestibulodynia
A
Andrew T Goldstein, MD
K
Kate L Tolleson, MS
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Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders
Lead Sponsor
National Vulvodynia Association
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | Topical Ketotifen 0.25% Cream | Placebo Cream |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A topical prescription-only cream that contains ketotifen fumarate 0.25%, a mast cell stabilizer, applied to the vulvar vestibule twice daily. | A matched placebo cream with no active drug, applied the same way as the ketotifen cream. |
| Role in trial | Investigational treatment arm, assessing reduction in pain and tenderness in women with secondary vestibulodynia. | Placebo comparator arm, designed to control for the effect of applying cream without active medication. |
| Primary use or study purpose | Being studied for reducing pain (especially pain on dilator exam and insertional dyspareunia) in women with secondary provoked vestibulodynia and persistent vulvar tenderness. | Being used as an inactive comparator to assess the effects of the active ketotifen cream, with all scheduled visits and procedures identical. |
| How is it given or performed? | Participants apply a thin layer of ketotifen cream to the vestibular area twice daily for 12 weeks after a 2-week placebo run-in period. Dosing is tracked with pre-weighed tubes. | Participants follow the identical procedure, applying placebo cream to the same area twice daily for 12 weeks after the run-in period using pre-weighed tubes. |
| Evidence status and maturity | Effectiveness for vulvodynia remains under investigation. No published randomized trial evidence yet exists for topical ketotifen in this population. | Placebo has no expected therapeutic effect. Used to control for application and study participation effects. |
| Important limitations | Ketotifen cream has not yet been evaluated in prior double-blind clinical trials for this use, and long-term outcomes, safety, and optimal use are unknown. External evidence supports behavioral and physical therapies as current-care approaches, but guideline evidence for this specific topical therapy is lacking. | Does not address underlying inflammation, nerve changes, or pain mechanisms. Placebo outcomes may reflect non-specific effects only. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
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Duration - Up to 1 week
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person) for eligibility confirmation, medical history review, physical and gynecologic examination, vaginal cultures, baseline assessments, and pregnancy testing where applicable.
Duration - 2 weeks
Participants apply a placebo (vehicle) cream twice daily to the vulvar vestibule to identify placebo responders or those intolerant to the cream base.
No scheduled visits during this period; application twice daily at home.
Duration - 12 weeks
Participants apply topical ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream or matching vehicle cream twice daily to the vulvar vestibule for 12 weeks to evaluate efficacy and safety.
Visits at Week 3 (randomization), Week 9 (mid-treatment), and Week 15 (end-of-treatment) for assessments and dispensing/collection of study cream tubes.
Duration - 30 days
Participants are monitored for safety and adverse events for 30 days after the last application of study treatment.
No scheduled visits; ongoing safety monitoring through participant reports.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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Lead Sponsor
National Vulvodynia Association
Collaborating Sponsor