TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical manifestations and evaluation of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy
AU - Pérez-López, Faustino R.
AU - Vieira-Baptista, Pedro
AU - Phillips, Nancy
AU - Cohen-Sacher, Bina
AU - Fialho, Susana C.A.V.
AU - Stockdale, Colleen K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Introduction: It is estimated that 50% of women will suffer a severe form of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) related to menopause. Equally, young women may temporarily present this clinical problem while receiving various pharmacological or endocrine treatments or radiotherapy. Aim: To determine clinical and diagnostic exams required to confirm the presence of VVA (also referred to as atrophic vaginitis, urogenital atrophy, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause) and rule out other genital or pelvic clinical conditions. Materials and methods: Literature review searches were carried out on the main scientific article search engines (PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane) using different clinical terms, treatments or interventions and comorbidity related to VVA. Results: The development and severity of VVA depend mainly on the duration of hypoestrogenism. Hypoestrogenism causes changes in the urogenital tissue, generating signs and symptoms, such as dryness, burning, soreness, itching, and irritation of the genital skin. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis (patient history), questionnaires, physical exam, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be completed with the Vaginal Health Index, the Vaginal Maturation Index, or vaginal pH in the absence of infection or semen. The exclusion of other vulvovaginal organic pathology is essential to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide adequate treatment. Conclusions: The specialist should be able to identify VVA, rule out other pathologies that make a differential diagnosis and conduct proper management.
AB - Introduction: It is estimated that 50% of women will suffer a severe form of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) related to menopause. Equally, young women may temporarily present this clinical problem while receiving various pharmacological or endocrine treatments or radiotherapy. Aim: To determine clinical and diagnostic exams required to confirm the presence of VVA (also referred to as atrophic vaginitis, urogenital atrophy, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause) and rule out other genital or pelvic clinical conditions. Materials and methods: Literature review searches were carried out on the main scientific article search engines (PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane) using different clinical terms, treatments or interventions and comorbidity related to VVA. Results: The development and severity of VVA depend mainly on the duration of hypoestrogenism. Hypoestrogenism causes changes in the urogenital tissue, generating signs and symptoms, such as dryness, burning, soreness, itching, and irritation of the genital skin. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis (patient history), questionnaires, physical exam, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be completed with the Vaginal Health Index, the Vaginal Maturation Index, or vaginal pH in the absence of infection or semen. The exclusion of other vulvovaginal organic pathology is essential to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide adequate treatment. Conclusions: The specialist should be able to identify VVA, rule out other pathologies that make a differential diagnosis and conduct proper management.
KW - Menopause
KW - atrophic vaginitis
KW - diagnosis
KW - dyspareunia
KW - genitourinary syndrome of menopause
KW - vulvovaginal atrophy
KW - women’s sexual health
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U2 - 10.1080/09513590.2021.1931100
DO - 10.1080/09513590.2021.1931100
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34036849
AN - SCOPUS:85106460475
SN - 0951-3590
VL - 37
SP - 740
EP - 745
JO - Gynecological Endocrinology
JF - Gynecological Endocrinology
IS - 8
ER -