Vaginal atrophy of women in postmenopause. Results from a multicentric observational study: The AGATA study

Post-menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy — an overview of the current treatment options

“…A multi-center, population study AGATA based on 913 women, mean age 59.3, revealed the GSM prevalence in 79.1%, occurring 1-6 years after menopause. In this observation, all women diagnosed with GSM suffered from vaginal dryness, 77.8% reported dyspareunia, whereas burning, itching and dysuria occurred in 56.9%, 56.6% and 36.1% respectively [6]. These symptoms significantly decrease the quality of life, especially in the sexual sphere, which was confirmed by the REVIVE study, conducted on a group of 3046 post-menopausal women [7].…”

Histological changes in the vulva and vagina from ovariectomised rats undergoing oestrogen treatment

“…General and local modifications appear during menopause as a response to the deficiency in oestrogens, which may occur progressively in natural menopause, or suddenly in surgical menopause [11,24]. Such morphological and structural modifications are often associated with alterations in various organs, thus influencing the quality of life [10,23].…”

Macro-regional variation in attitudes toward and experiences of vulvar and vaginal atrophy among Italian post-menopausal women: a post hoc analysis of REVIVE survey data

“…Per capita health-care expenditure is generally higher in the North than in Central Italy and the South [19], and survey data from 1993 and 2005 suggest that the perceived quality of public health services is lower in the South than in Central Italy and the North [20]. This is in spite of (or perhaps a contributor to) higher rates of obesity, sedentary behavior, and hospitalization in the South than in other parts of Italy [16,18]. Deficiencies in health care in the South have been attributed mainly to cultural factors [17,20].…”

“…A plausible explanation for these differences is regional differences in health education or the provision of information about the menopause. Previous studies of knowledge of the menopause among Italian women did not specifically examine the role of geography [16,23,24].…”

“…For this reason, perhaps, less than 10% of the women currently receiving treatment were using a prescription medication; the vast majority were using over-the-counter (OTC) medications [3]. The AGATA Study also refers to Italian postmenopausal women, finding that almost 30% had had a previous diagnosis of VVA and were treated either with no therapy (10%), systemic hormone (9%), local hormone (45%), or local non-hormonal (37%) therapy [16].…”