Presentation
Women affected by this condition may present a variety of symptoms including vaginal and vulvar pain and irritation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
If other health problems are also present, these can be taken into account when determining the best course of treatment. [en.wikipedia.org]
Prolapse, which may have been present since childbirth, can become symptomatic as the mucosa becomes less elastic and the pelvic floor loses tone. [journals.sagepub.com]
We presented 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all outcomes. [cochranelibrary.com]
Entire Body System
- Inflammation
Estrogen deficiency during menopause can cause thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls, leading to the common and chronic condition known as vaginal atrophy. [novonordisk.ca]
Vaginal secretions lessen, resulting in decreased lubrication to the area, which can cause dryness and inflammation. Vaginal atrophy can cause symptoms of atrophic vaginitis or cystitis. [premierhealth.com]
Though this may be true, inflammation and infection are not the major components of postmenopausal changes to the vagina. [en.wikipedia.org]
According to Mazanti, if cells are not getting enough oxygen they cannot eliminate waste from the tissue, which can cause inflammation that leads to problems such as vaginal atrophy. [whimn.com.au]
- Asymptomatic
However, in some women with mild-to-moderate severity, VVA occurs asymptomatically and verification of diagnosis is possible only with vaginal examination. 16 The diagnosis of VVA is made difficult by the low awareness of women about the pathological [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Skin
- Night Sweats
CME Questions About Vulvovaginal Atrophy A 58-year-old woman, who has been taking oral hormone therapy (HT) for successful control of hot flashes and night sweats, reports vaginal itching, burning, and dyspareunia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Eyes
- Prolapse
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 4, CD004014 ( 2013 ). Google Scholar 52. Ismail, SI, Bain, C, Hagen, S. Oestrogens for treatment or prevention of pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women. [journals.sagepub.com]
However, depending on the daily dose of estrogens, such systems can facilitate not only urogenital symptoms, but also vasomotor manifestations of the climacteric syndrome. 26 The use of vaginal rings is not recommended in women with prolapse of the genitals [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Musculoskeletal
- Osteoporosis
For other indications, such as prevention of osteoporosis, sponsors are asked to direct inquiries to the appropriate CDER Office of New Drugs review division. [fda.gov]
Local estrogen therapy allows to quickly eliminate the symptoms of VVA, but it does not alleviate the vasomotor symptoms and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Those women who are survivors of hormone-sensitive cancer may need to be treated more cautiously. [1] Some women can have symptoms that are widespread and may be at risk for osteoporosis. [en.wikipedia.org]
Neurologic
- Forgetful
"But forget about that and have a sexual relationship with yourself. “It's about using massage and touching the tissue so that it becomes alive, the blood flows and the tissue becomes elastic. “It is really about exercising the tissue.” [whimn.com.au]
It is important not to forget about the positive effect of sexual intercourse on the improvement of vaginal health. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Urogenital
- Urinary Incontinence
incontinence (unintended release of urine) Vaginal atrophy can cause vaginal and urinary tract infections (UTIs). [hormone.org]
Urinary incontinence (unintended releaseof urine) Vaginal atrophy also can increase your risk of vaginal infections and urinary tract infections. What causes vaginal atrophy? Vaginal atrophy occurs when your body lacks estrogen. [academic.oup.com]
Two studies have shown that oral hormone therapy (HT) may worsen symptoms of urinary incontinence. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The relationship between urogenital atrophic change and stress urinary incontinence is more controversial, with the finding that systemic estrogen replacement in the WHI and Nurses Health studies increased the risk of stress incontinence; however, this [journals.sagepub.com]
- Vulvar Pain
Women affected by this condition may present a variety of symptoms including vaginal and vulvar pain and irritation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Treatment
Non-Prescription Treatments Some women find that non-prescription treatments work well, especially for mild symptoms. Non-prescription treatments are hormone-free and have few side effects. [academic.oup.com]
This action continues its beneficial effect even after the treatment is finished and, for this reason, many women report further improvements during the first month post-treatment. Back to Treatments Overview [juliet-laser.com]
What are the treatment options? For many woman, non-prescription (over-the-counter) treatments can help, especially if symptoms are mild. [hormone.org]
Differential Diagnosis for Symptoms of Vulvovaginal Atrophy TREATMENT Nonhormonal Treatments Current over-the-counter treatments include nonhormonal vaginal moisturizers for VVA symptoms and lubricants for dyspareunia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Treatments First-line treatment for minimal symptoms can be over-the-counter treatments including lubricants, pH-balancing gels and vaginal remoisturizers. [journals.sagepub.com]
Etiology
However, the etiology of urogenital disorders related to estrogen deficiency may be forgotten given the time scale that they can take to develop. [journals.sagepub.com]
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: anoverview of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, andmanagement. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 215 (6):704–711. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 16. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Epidemiology
Women and their partners have reported that estrogen therapy resulted in less painful sex, more satisfaction with sex, and an improvement in their sex life. [1] Epidemiology [ edit ] Up to 50% of postmenopausal women have at least some degree of vaginal [en.wikipedia.org]
Recently, the European Vulvovaginal Epidemiological Survey was carried out, in which >2,000 postmenopausal women were examined. Symptoms of VVA were detected in 90% of women. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The trigone of the bladder is also of endodermal origin, and the physical changes correspond with the epidemiological increase in bladder symptoms and cystitis. [journals.sagepub.com]
Pathophysiology
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: anoverview of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, andmanagement. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 215 (6):704–711. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 16. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prevention
For other indications, such as prevention of osteoporosis, sponsors are asked to direct inquiries to the appropriate CDER Office of New Drugs review division. [fda.gov]
Prevention of bone loss in postmenopausal women treated with lasofoxifene compared with raloxifene. Menopause. 2006; 13 (3):377–386. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 43. Cummings S, Eastell R, Ensrud K. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Oestrogens for treatment or prevention of pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 9, CD007063 ( 2010 ). Google Scholar 53. Bateson, DJ, Weisberg, E. [journals.sagepub.com]
Limiting or avoiding estrogen can help prevent a return of breast cancer. What should you do if you have symptoms of vaginal atrophy? See your doctor. Your doctor can find the cause of your symptoms and suggest options to help you feel better. [academic.oup.com]
Recommendations for the use of the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration help to prevent adverse endometrial effects. [9] Some treatments have been developed more recently. [en.wikipedia.org]