ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07544667Updated Aug 21, 2026

Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Vulvovaginal Tissue Regeneration

An interventional study of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra) injection and Placebo injection (sterile water) in Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), Cystocele and Pelvic Floor Disorder, sponsored by Cassandra Kisby. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 21 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-21.

Primary conditionCystoceleRegistry: Pelvic Organ ProlapseReclassifiedWhy we changed it
Registry
Pelvic Organ Prolapse — the first condition term the registry derived for this study.
ClinicalTrials.gg
Cystocele
Why
  1. The study's listed conditions name Cystocele, a narrower term within Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
Confidence
High: the new condition is named in the study's own listed conditions. Of 351 hand-checked studies reclassified this way, 68% were exactly right and 84% in the right disease family; the registry's first term was right for 5% (measured 2026-10-21). How we classify →
Wrong?
Tell us the study's main condition →

Sponsored by Cassandra Kisby · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Aug 2026; still recruiting 2 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
21 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition characterized by descent of vaginal walls, uterus and cervix, or the perineum and causes a sensation of vaginal bulge and pelvic pressure. Millions of women in the United States are affected, and the number is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Current treatments either involve conservative measures or surgery. Surgery may lead to changes in vaginal topography and scar tissue, both of which impact sexual function. There are no treatment options that restore vaginal tissue strength and preserve, even optimize, sensation and blood flow to the vagina. This project will evaluate the use of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), an FDA-approved biostimulant for dermatologic use with an expansive safety profile over the past decade, in the treatment of anterior wall POP and its impact on sexual function. Our study will compare intravaginal injection of PLLA vs. placebo in women with stage 2 cystocele and investigate safety and preliminary efficacy of PLLA. Prior study of regenerative biologics for the vulva and vagina have shown great promise, but use of these has not been explored for POP. This randomized controlled trial has the potential to shift the paradigm of prolapse management from surgical reconstruction to regeneration. This shift will prevent the risks of surgery and has the potential to improve sexual function and quality of life by resolving POP.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)
  • Cystocele
  • Pelvic Floor Disorder

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Keywords

  • regenerative medicine
  • biostimulant
  • tissue regeneration
  • pelvic floor disorder
  • pelvic organ prolapse
  • cystocele
03

In context

Cystocele Reclassified

71 studies on the registry are indexed under Cystocele; 5 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 75 across 46 interventional studies indexed under Cystocele.

Browse Cystocele studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Cassandra Kisby as lead sponsor.

Compared within Cystocele, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Pelvic Organ Prolapse. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age > 21
  • Stage II POP of anterior vaginal wall (Ba ≥ -1)
  • Symptomatic bulge symptoms

    • Positive response to PFDI-20 question 3: Do you usually have a bulge or something falling out that you can see or feel in the vaginal area?
    • AND any degree of bother. Providing any answer other than "not at all" to "how much does this bother you"
  • Abstinent, on , or at time of injection
  • Must read or understand English

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Concurrent apical or posterior prolapse > stage 1
  • Prior pelvic radiation
  • Previous vaginal reconstructive surgery (Except total vaginal hysterectomy or sling)
  • History of chronic vaginal infections (ex. Sexually transmitted infection or bacterial vaginosis)
  • Prior vaginal laser treatment \< 6 months
  • Planned vaginal laser/topical treatment
  • History of hypertrophic reaction to vicryl (polyglactin-910)
  • Allergy to Sculptra aesthetic or any components of Sculptra (PLLA, carboxymethylcellulose, non-pyrogenic mannitol)
  • Allergy to silicone
  • Premenopausal without or abstinence during treatment phase
  • Currently breastfeeding
  • Connective tissue disorder
  • Uncontrolled diabetes (defined as > 8)
  • Does not read or understand English
  • Inability to provide
  • Physical limitations that would prevent subjects from performing the required pelvic wand massage sessions after each injection, such as significant arthritis or other mobility limitations.
  • Prescription anticoagulation therapy that cannot be safely discontinued (Aspirin and anti- therapies would be considered acceptable)
  • Current use of other treatments for prolapse, such as pessary, in subjects who are unwilling to discontinue these treatments during the study period.
  • Planning to start pelvic floor physical therapy during the study
  • Undergoing physical therapy and not willing to stop internal therapy for 2 weeks after an injection or
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(6)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
20 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    PLLA (Sculptra) Injection

    Participants will receive three injections of PLLA, one per month, in the tissues of the front wall of the vagina

    Device: Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra) injection

  • Placebo comparator
    Control Injection

    Participants will receive three injections of sterile water, one per month, in the tissues of the front wall of the vagina

    Other: Placebo injection (sterile water)

Interventions

  • DevicePoly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra) injection

    Sculptra will be diluted in 8mL of sterile water and 1mL of lidocaine and injected across the anterior/ventral vagina

    Also known as: PLLA

  • OtherPlacebo injection (sterile water)

    8mL of sterile water will be combine with 1mL of lidocaine for injection in the anterior/ventral vagina

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of adverse events between groups

    The investigators will assess the number of adverse events between groups using Clavien Dindo classification system (Grade I-V)

    Time frame: We will measure AEs 2 weeks after each of the three injections, and at in-person study visits (last being 9 months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification Point Ba Between Groups

    The investigators will assess Ba (maximum descent of the anterior vaginal wall) values between intravaginal PLLA vs. placebo injection groups at initial visit, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, and 9 months after injection. They will use linear regression models controlling for baseline Ba.

    Time frame: 9 months

  2. Patient Reported Pelvic Symptoms (PFDI-20)

    Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) is a short form of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory. It is a patient reported outcome measure assessing bowel, bladder, or pelvic symptoms and severity of symptoms. It has a total score ranging from 0 to 300 (higher scores indicate greater distress)

    Time frame: 9 months

  3. Patient Reported Pelvic Symptoms (Vaginal health)

    Vaginal health: Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ) measures vulvovaginal health via a series of yes and no questions. The total score ranges from 0 to 16 for sexually inactive women and 0 to 20 for sexually active women, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.

    Time frame: 9 months

  4. Patient Reported Pelvic Symptoms (Sexual function)

    Sexual function: Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-IR) is used to assess patient reported sexual function in individuals with pelvic floor disorders. Items are generally answered on a 0-4 Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better sexual function for sexually active women and lower impact on sexual inactivity for non-sexually active women.

    Time frame: 9 months

  5. Patient Reported Pelvic Symptoms (Body Image)

    Body Image in Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse (BIPOP) is a self-reported outcomes questionnaire used to assess how prolapse affects a woman's body image. It is scored on a 1-5 scale based on 10 items, where higher mean scores (1-5) indicate a worse prolapse-related body image.

    Time frame: 9 months

  6. Quality of Life Questionnaires (SF-12)

    Global: Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) uses a scale 0-47. It is scored using complex, weighted algorithms that aggregate 12 items into two main composite scores-the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Using norm-based scoring, scores are transformed to have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10, where a score \> 50 indicates better-than-average health.

    Time frame: 9 months

  7. Quality of Life Questionnaires (PFIQ-7)

    Disease specific: urinary, bowel, and prolapse scales of Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) evaluates patient reported impact of pelvic organ prolapse on quality of life. s scored by assigning a value from 0 to 3 for each of the seven questions across three subscales (0="Not at all", 3="Quite a bit"). Subscale scores are calculated by obtaining the mean of answered items, then multiplying by to achieve a 0-100 range. The total PFIQ-7 score is the sum of the three subscales (0-300), where lower scores indicate better quality of life.

    Time frame: 9 months

  8. Tissue Histology

    The investigators will evaluate histology (tissue) level changes between groups via a vaginal biopsy at baseline and at 6 months.

    Time frame: 6 months

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Duke Urogynecology, Patterson Place
    Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Sculptra. Poly-L-Lactic Acid. Galderma. https://www.galderma.com/au/sites/default/files/Sculptra%20IFU_Aug21.pdf
  • Haykal D, Haddad A, Cartier H, Avelar L. Poly-L-Lactic Acid in Aesthetic Dermatology: A Decade Beyond Volume Restoration Toward Regenerative Biostimulation. Aesthet Surg J. 2025 Sep 16;45(10):1065-1072. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjaf121. PubMed 40580932 ↗
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sculptra: P030050/S039. FDA website. Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/recently-approved-devices/sculptra-p030050s039
  • Jelovsek JE, Maher C, Barber MD. Pelvic organ prolapse. Lancet. 2007 Mar 24;369(9566):1027-38. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60462-0. PubMed 17382829 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 21, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07544667
Lead sponsor
Cassandra Kisby
Responsible party
Cassandra Kisby (Assistant Professor, Duke University) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Apr 22, 2026
Start date
Aug 20, 2026
Primary completion
Jul 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 21, 2026

Study contacts

Cassandra Kisby, MD MS FACOG FACS
Contact
cassandra.kisby@duke.edu
9194011000
Duke Urogynecology Clinical Research Coordinators
Contact
urogyn_research@duke.edu
Cassandra Kisby, MD MS FACOG FACS
principal investigator · Duke University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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