Predictors of impact of vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women (original) (raw)
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Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2018
To evaluate factors associated with incident self-reported vaginal dryness and the consequences of this symptom across the menopausal transition in a multiracial/ethnic cohort of community-dwelling women. We analyzed questionnaire and biomarker data from baseline and 13 approximately annual visits over 17 years (1996-2013) from 2,435 participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a prospective cohort study. We used discrete-time Cox proportional-hazards regression to identify predictors of incident vaginal dryness and to evaluate vaginal dryness as a predictor of pain during intercourse and changes in sexual intercourse frequency. The prevalence of vaginal dryness increased from 19.4% among all women at baseline (ages 42-53 years) to 34.0% at the 13th visit (ages 57-69 years). Advancing menopausal stage, surgical menopause, anxiety, and being married were positively associated with developing vaginal dryness, regardless of partnered sexual activity. For women not...
International Journal of Women's Health, 2013
Several recent, large-scale studies have provided valuable insights into patient perspectives on postmenopausal vulvovaginal health. Symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, which include dryness, irritation, itching, dysuria, and dyspareunia, can adversely affect interpersonal relationships, quality of life, and sexual function. While approximately half of postmenopausal women report these symptoms, far fewer seek treatment, often because they are uninformed about hypoestrogenic postmenopausal vulvovaginal changes and the availability of safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatments, particularly local vaginal estrogen therapy. Because women hesitate to seek help for symptoms, a proactive approach to conversations about vulvovaginal discomfort would improve diagnosis and treatment.
This dissertation provides an in-depth analysis of the evaluation of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) Questionnaire, a tool used by clinicians to understand women's symptomatology as they progress through the menopausal transition. While the MENQOL was rigorously developed through various methods, a factor analysis had never been conducted on the instrument. A factor analysis was conducted on this tool, using the existing version, and again with the existing version and additional vaginal health items. Results showed that the items in the instrument largely held to the domains under which they were intended. When the vaginal health items were added, a new domain of vaginal health items emerged. There currently exists little literature which examines the explicit association between vasomotor and psychosocial symptoms among postmenopausal women. An additional aim of this dissertation was to examine this association using a longitudinal population-based study of pos...
Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2018
Symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) are bothersome to middle-aged and older women, and affect their quality of life (QoL), sexuality, and daily activities. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of vaginal symptoms and GSM on the well-being, functioning, and QoL of postmenopausal women from Spain. This study involved 423 postmenopausal women participating in the GENISSE study (a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study) who presented at least 1 vaginal symptom. All women completed the "day-to-day impact of vaginal aging" (DIVA) questionnaire. Analysis of total scores and subdomains of the questionnaire were performed in women diagnosed with GSM and those without the condition. In these women, the highest mean scores on the DIVA questionnaire were found in the sexual functioning domain long version (mean 1.8; SD 1.0), followed by the sexual functioning domain short version (mean 1.7; SD 1.1), self-perception and body im...
Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2018
Compare the effects of a vaginal estradiol tablet and a vaginal moisturizer, each to placebo, on menopause-related quality of life and mood in postmenopausal women with moderate-severe vulvovaginal symptoms. A total of 302 postmenopausal women enrolled in a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial were assigned to vaginal 10 μg estradiol tablet plus placebo gel (n = 102), vaginal moisturizer plus placebo tablet (n = 100), or dual placebo (n = 100). We measured change from randomization to 12 weeks in total score of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. We also evaluated the four MENQOL domains, depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 8, and anxiety symptoms as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire. Treatment with vaginal estradiol resulted in significantly greater improvement in total MENQOL scores compared to dual placebo (mean difference between arms -0.3 at 12 weeks (95% confidence...
Vaginal Health in Menopausal Women
Medicina
The aim of this review is to provide an overview of genitourinary health in peri- and postmenopause, particularly of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), which is part of genitourinary syndrome (GSM). This condition has a high prevalence among post-menopausal women and negatively affects a woman’s quality of life. Epidemiology, signs, symptoms, diagnostic criteria of VVA and target treatments for restoring vaginal health are discussed in light of the most recent literature. Issues related to this condition in menopausal women are under-diagnosed, lack objective diagnostic criteria, and consequently under-treated. Over the years, many treatments have been developed but their long-term effectiveness and safety have yet to be clearly defined. Patients are often dissatisfied and stop treatment, suggesting the need for a more personalized and tailored approach to achieve better compliance and thereby effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the most recent literature on V...
JAMA internal medicine, 2018
Nearly half of postmenopausal women report bothersome vulvovaginal symptoms, but few data support the efficacy of 2 commonly recommended treatments. To compare the efficacy of a low-dose vaginal estradiol tablet and a vaginal moisturizer, each vs placebo, for treatment of moderate-to-severe postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms. This 12-week multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolled postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms of vulvovaginal itching, pain, dryness, irritation, or pain with penetration. Vaginal 10-μcg estradiol tablet (daily for 2 weeks, then twice weekly) plus placebo gel (3 times a week) (n = 102) vs placebo tablet plus vaginal moisturizer (n = 100) vs dual placebo (n = 100). The main outcome was decrease in severity (0-3) of most bothersome symptom (MBS) between enrollment and 12 weeks. Additional measures included a composite vaginal symptom score, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score (2-36), modified Female Sexual Distress Score-Revised item 1...
Menopause, 2010
Objective: Vasomotor and psychosocial symptoms persist as common manifestations of menopause; their explicit association is unclear. We investigated this association among postmenopausal women over a 2-year period. Methods: The Menopause Epidemiology Study is a cross-sectional population-based study of women 40 to 65 years old in the United States. We followed participants who were postmenopausal at baseline and at 2-year follow-up (n = 1,506) in the analyses. The vasomotor and psychosocial domains of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to assess exposure and outcome. Change in symptoms was defined as the difference in the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire domain score from baseline to follow-up 2 years later. Demographic information, behavioral activities, reproductive history, and medication use were evaluated for effect modification and confounding. Covariate-adjusted linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the change in vasomotor symptoms and change in psychosocial symptoms. Results: One quarter (n = 375) of the women reported an increase in vasomotor symptoms over the 2-year study period. Twenty-two percent of the women reported an increase in both vasomotor and psychosocial symptoms. Current smoking status was found to be an effect modifier: a one-unit increase in the vasomotor domain was associated with a 0.21-unit (95% CI, 0.12-0.29) increase in the psychosocial domain among smokers; this was stronger (0.29, 95% CI, 0.20-0.39) among past or never smokers. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence of an association between vasomotor symptoms and psychosocial symptoms using a validated instrument in a population-based study. There is a small increase in psychosocial symptoms with increasing vasomotor symptoms. Clinicians may want to note this association when treating postmenopausal women with either condition.
Vasomotor symptoms are associated with depression in perimenopausal women seeking primary care
Menopause, 2002
Objective: To assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with, moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older Australian women. Methods: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted amongst community-dwelling older women. Participants were recruited between April and August 2014 from a national database based on the electoral roll. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) tool. Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), and pelvic floor symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Women were provided a comprehensive list of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers) to identify their use over the preceding month. Results: In all, 1,534 women completed the BDI-II. Overall, 34.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.8%-36.7%) of women had VMS, 6.3% (95% CI 5.2%-7.7%) had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II score !20), 26.8% (95% CI 24.6%-29.1%) had used any psychotropic medication in the previous month, and 17.5% (95%CI: 15.6-19.5%) had taken an antidepressant. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were more common among women using antidepressants compared with nonusers (16.6% vs 4.3%; P < 0.001). Obesity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.18, 95% CI 1.17-4.04), living in financially insecure housing (AOR 3.84, 95% CI 2.08-8.08), being a caregiver to another person (AOR 2.39, 95% CI 1.36-4.19), being a smoker (AOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.12-4.66), having VMS (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.03-2.62), having pelvic floor dysfunction (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.08-2.94), and having vaginal dryness during intercourse (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.06-3.22, P < 0.05) were positively and independently associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Being currently partnered (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33-0.97) and employed (AOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.92) were associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: In older women, depressive symptoms are common and are associated with social and financial insecurity, and with VMS.
2005
As a result of an estrogen deficiency caused by the onset of menopause, substantial modifications of the hormone-dependent tissues and the urogenital tract occur, including a rise in vaginal pH, decreased or discontinued production of glycogen, a reduction in the elasticity and thickness of the vaginal wall, and reduced blood flow and secretions in the vagina. Vaginal atrophy, which occurs in 40% of postmenopausal women, may occur with characteristic symptoms such as itching, dryness, dyspareunia, and dysuria, and with repercussions on the woman’s quality of life. Vaginal atrophy can be treated with hormonal therapy either topically or systemically. When these treatments are poorly tolerated or contraindicated (history of cancer, thromboembolism, etc.), local, non-hormonal therapies with a moisturizing and/or lubricating action, such as cremes or gels, may be a valid alternative. The VALYD (Vaginal Dryness and Quality of Life in Menopausal Women) study conducted under the auspices o...