BPC 157 Heals Established Vesicovaginal Fistulas and Prevents Bladder Stones in Rats

BPC 157 therapy initiated 2 weeks after fistula creation (when healing had failed) reversed the course within 1 week across all regimens (10 µg/kg and 10 ng/kg, IP or oral). All treated rats showed: cessation of urinary leakage through vagina, increased epithelization, collagenization, granulation tissue and neovascularization, decreased inflammation and necrosis. By study end (day 56), treated rats exhibited 5x larger bladder volume capacity before leaking compared to healthy controls, complete vesical and vaginal defect closure, and zero stone formation — versus persistent fistulas and stone formation in untreated controls.

Rats received surgically created vesicovaginal fistulas (4 mm bilateral defects). After 2 weeks confirming failed healing, BPC 157 therapy began at two doses (10 µg/kg and 10 ng/kg) via daily intraperitoneal injection or oral administration in drinking water. Healing was assessed at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-treatment initiation through macroscopic examination, histological analysis (epithelization, collagenization, granulation, neovascularization, inflammation, necrosis), functional testing (volume capacity), and stone formation assessment.

Vesicovaginal fistulas affect millions of women worldwide, particularly in developing countries where surgical repair access is limited. A non-surgical treatment that could heal established fistulas — even when started after healing has failed — would be transformative. BPC 157's effectiveness at nanogram doses and via oral administration makes it potentially practical for resource-limited settings.

BPC 157 continues to demonstrate remarkable tissue repair capabilities across a growing list of preclinical fistula and wound models. The vesicovaginal fistula result is consistent with its previously demonstrated healing of gastrointestinal, esophagocutaneous, and other fistula types. The consistency of effects across different tissues, doses, and routes of administration adds to the body of evidence, though the lack of any human clinical trials remains a critical gap.

This is an animal study in rats, whose anatomy and fistula healing biology differ significantly from humans. The study was not blinded, introducing potential assessment bias. The fistulas were surgically created under controlled conditions, unlike the complex etiology of human vesicovaginal fistulas (usually from prolonged labor or surgery). No human trials exist for BPC 157 in any fistula indication. The research comes from a single laboratory group that has published extensively on BPC 157.