Vaginal dryness: individualised patient profiles, risks and mitigating measures

Abstract

Vaginal dryness (VD) affects both pre-and postmenopausal women at any age. Since the hormonal regulation changes during the climacteric period are considered as being the main course of the VD, affected women prefer not to talk about the problem. However, the problem does exist, and unfortunately if any, relatively minor group in the population possesses the health literacy at sufficient level to understand that VD is a suboptimal health condition which carries a multi-factorial character. Thereby, some of the contributing factors are clearly preventable and, therefore, if treated properly, have a potential to milden the VD. Current chapter demonstrates specific signs and symptoms of Flammer syndrome in women suffering from vaginal dryness, although individualised patient profiles clearly discriminate between pre-and postmenopausal women regarding the subgroup-specific symptoms. Noteworthy, about 20% of the VD patients involved in the study notify a delayed or even impaired wound healing observed for themselves over a couple of years. Optimising modifiable risk factors accompanying FS phenotype at the level of primary prevention is strongly recommended. Individualised patient profiles provide important information for VD mitigating measures tailored to the person. Further, future projects should essentially deal with the complexity of vulvar-vaginal dryness as part of the Sicca syndrome in individuals with FS phenotype, in order to prevent genital female cancers which may occur at any age. In contrast to the human papilloma virus as possible trigger of the disease, the role of the vulvar-vaginal dryness as an important risk factor is strongly underestimated in currently applied diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAP) as a New Tool for the Management of Vulva Cancer and Vulvar Premalignant Lesions in Gynaecological Oncology

“…Future strategies in the area could consider highly protective and cost-effective 3PM approaches comprising individualised profiling, predictive diagnosis, innovative screening programmes focused on young populations and individuals in suboptimal health conditions, targeted prevention, and treatments tailored to the individual [309,314,315,325].…”

“…HPV vaccination was mentioned above as one of the prominent approaches in preventing vulvar cancer linked to HPV lesions. In contrast to the human papillomavirus as a possible trigger of the disease, the role of vulvar-vaginal dryness as an essential risk factor is greatly underestimated in currently applied diagnostic and treatment approaches as demonstrated by Olga Golubnitschaja and colleagues [309,310]. At this level of targeted prevention, the main focus is on people in suboptimal health predisposed to the disease development (latent chronic VIN pathologies).…”

“…The most prominent example is demonstrated for individuals with Flammer syndrome (FS) phenotype, with a higher prevalence in young female populations, and academicians demonstrating signs and symptoms of primary vascular dysregulation, a tendency to perfectionism, strong stress sensitivity, and healing impairments, amongst other things [310]. A topic-dedicated study demonstrated the FS phenotype as potentially characteristic for premenopausal females with vulvar-vaginal dryness [309]. Specifically, in this patient cohort, excessive vasoconstriction, feeling cold, low blood pressure, dizziness, strongly reduced thirst perception, strong smell perception, headache, perfectionistic personality, and tinnitus have been demonstrated as frequently co-exhibited symptoms [309].…”

“…A topic-dedicated study demonstrated the FS phenotype as potentially characteristic for premenopausal females with vulvar-vaginal dryness [309]. Specifically, in this patient cohort, excessive vasoconstriction, feeling cold, low blood pressure, dizziness, strongly reduced thirst perception, strong smell perception, headache, perfectionistic personality, and tinnitus have been demonstrated as frequently co-exhibited symptoms [309]. Since many of the risk factors linked to FS carry a clearly preventable character, this phenotype is of great clinical utility for screening programs, in order to prevent female genital cancers, which may occur at any age.…”

Breast Cancer Metastatic to Vulva - a Case Report

“…Risk factors includes weakened immune system and previous history of precancerous conditions of the vulva [2]. In addition, the human papilloma virus is considered a possible trigger of the vulvar dryness which is seen as contributing factor in the occurrence of vulvar cancer [3].…”