In postmenopausal women undergoing cervical screening, sea buckthorn oil suppositories used for 2 weeks improved vaginal tissue integrity and image quality during the procedure—performing similarly to prescription estrogen ointment. Both treatments significantly outperformed no treatment, making the exam easier to perform and more reliable for detecting abnormalities.

Researchers divided 368 postmenopausal women into three groups: no treatment, sea buckthorn oil suppositories for 2 weeks, or estrogen ointment for 2 weeks. They then evaluated how well doctors could visualize and perform cervical biopsies in each group.

Funding not disclosed in abstract