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Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow

Received: 19 August 2019     Accepted: 26 September 2019     Published: 2 December 2019
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Abstract

GSM includes wide spectrum of vulvovaginal Symptoms and urinary troubles replacing the term vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). It is a silent epidemic condition affecting 50-60% postmenopausal women. Estrogen withdrawal causes thinning, narrowing, tissue loss & reduced blood supply in vulvo-vaginal area, which results GSM. GSM causes burning in vagina, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, repeated UTI. Dyspareunia affects all the domain of sexual function and deteriorates the quality of life. Irony is, women are oblivious to share and doctors are reluctant to discuss. So women keep continue suffering without knowing the restorative treatment. Repercussion of GSM/VVA intensifies the sorrows, distress and sufferings. It has profound effect on relationship and psychology and quality of life of women. Good history taking and clinical examination do diagnosis. Investigations are done to exclude other causes. Treatment is challenging. Maintenance of optimum body weight, exercise, regular coitus, quitting smoking & excessive alcohol intake are the key factors. Vaginal moisturizers are recommended as 1st line therapy for mild to moderate VVA or women who can’t take estrogen. Ideal moisturizers should have similarity with vaginal secretion of osmolality, pH and composition. Meta analysis shows local estrogen therapy is effective. It restores vaginal pH and maturation index. Systemic absorption is minimal so progesterone needs not to be added. Testosterone improves dyspareunia, sexual desire, lubrication and satisfaction. DHEA (Prasterone) penetrates vaginal wall better. It increases elasticity and vascularity of vagina. RCTs have not shown benefits of it’s systemic therapy. But local daily administration of DHEA reduces dyspareunia and GSM so improves the quality of life. Ospemifene is well tolerated. It’s agonist effect on vaginal mucosa and antagonist effect on endometrium and breast, makes it promising. Lasofoxifene, third generation SERM, is also very effective but it needs FDA approval. Laser is widely being used and very effective. It is simple, faster, painless procedure. It activates dominant fibroblasts, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, thereby improves GSM & sexuality. Black cohosh, Botox, G-shot, probiotics, gabapentin are not yet evidence based. Still there is significant unmet need for medical treatment. Women reports GSM but that is only tip of iceberg. Good communication and optimum treatment only can break the sorrows GSM/VVA.

Published in American Journal of Internal Medicine (Volume 7, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14
Page(s) 154-162
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, Vulvovaginal Atrophy, Estrogen Cream, DHEA Cream, Laser Therapy, SERM

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen, Safinaz Shahreen, Saleheen Huq, Sabereen Huq. (2019). Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow. American Journal of Internal Medicine, 7(6), 154-162. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14

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    ACS Style

    Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen; Safinaz Shahreen; Saleheen Huq; Sabereen Huq. Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow. Am. J. Intern. Med. 2019, 7(6), 154-162. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14

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    AMA Style

    Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen, Safinaz Shahreen, Saleheen Huq, Sabereen Huq. Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow. Am J Intern Med. 2019;7(6):154-162. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14,
      author = {Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen and Safinaz Shahreen and Saleheen Huq and Sabereen Huq},
      title = {Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow},
      journal = {American Journal of Internal Medicine},
      volume = {7},
      number = {6},
      pages = {154-162},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajim.20190706.14},
      abstract = {GSM includes wide spectrum of vulvovaginal Symptoms and urinary troubles replacing the term vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). It is a silent epidemic condition affecting 50-60% postmenopausal women. Estrogen withdrawal causes thinning, narrowing, tissue loss & reduced blood supply in vulvo-vaginal area, which results GSM. GSM causes burning in vagina, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, repeated UTI. Dyspareunia affects all the domain of sexual function and deteriorates the quality of life. Irony is, women are oblivious to share and doctors are reluctant to discuss. So women keep continue suffering without knowing the restorative treatment. Repercussion of GSM/VVA intensifies the sorrows, distress and sufferings. It has profound effect on relationship and psychology and quality of life of women. Good history taking and clinical examination do diagnosis. Investigations are done to exclude other causes. Treatment is challenging. Maintenance of optimum body weight, exercise, regular coitus, quitting smoking & excessive alcohol intake are the key factors. Vaginal moisturizers are recommended as 1st line therapy for mild to moderate VVA or women who can’t take estrogen. Ideal moisturizers should have similarity with vaginal secretion of osmolality, pH and composition. Meta analysis shows local estrogen therapy is effective. It restores vaginal pH and maturation index. Systemic absorption is minimal so progesterone needs not to be added. Testosterone improves dyspareunia, sexual desire, lubrication and satisfaction. DHEA (Prasterone) penetrates vaginal wall better. It increases elasticity and vascularity of vagina. RCTs have not shown benefits of it’s systemic therapy. But local daily administration of DHEA reduces dyspareunia and GSM so improves the quality of life. Ospemifene is well tolerated. It’s agonist effect on vaginal mucosa and antagonist effect on endometrium and breast, makes it promising. Lasofoxifene, third generation SERM, is also very effective but it needs FDA approval. Laser is widely being used and very effective. It is simple, faster, painless procedure. It activates dominant fibroblasts, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, thereby improves GSM & sexuality. Black cohosh, Botox, G-shot, probiotics, gabapentin are not yet evidence based. Still there is significant unmet need for medical treatment. Women reports GSM but that is only tip of iceberg. Good communication and optimum treatment only can break the sorrows GSM/VVA.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) or Vulvo-vaginal Atrophy (VVA) an Unspoken Sorrow
    AU  - Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen
    AU  - Safinaz Shahreen
    AU  - Saleheen Huq
    AU  - Sabereen Huq
    Y1  - 2019/12/02
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14
    T2  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    JF  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    JO  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    SP  - 154
    EP  - 162
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-4324
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20190706.14
    AB  - GSM includes wide spectrum of vulvovaginal Symptoms and urinary troubles replacing the term vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). It is a silent epidemic condition affecting 50-60% postmenopausal women. Estrogen withdrawal causes thinning, narrowing, tissue loss & reduced blood supply in vulvo-vaginal area, which results GSM. GSM causes burning in vagina, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, repeated UTI. Dyspareunia affects all the domain of sexual function and deteriorates the quality of life. Irony is, women are oblivious to share and doctors are reluctant to discuss. So women keep continue suffering without knowing the restorative treatment. Repercussion of GSM/VVA intensifies the sorrows, distress and sufferings. It has profound effect on relationship and psychology and quality of life of women. Good history taking and clinical examination do diagnosis. Investigations are done to exclude other causes. Treatment is challenging. Maintenance of optimum body weight, exercise, regular coitus, quitting smoking & excessive alcohol intake are the key factors. Vaginal moisturizers are recommended as 1st line therapy for mild to moderate VVA or women who can’t take estrogen. Ideal moisturizers should have similarity with vaginal secretion of osmolality, pH and composition. Meta analysis shows local estrogen therapy is effective. It restores vaginal pH and maturation index. Systemic absorption is minimal so progesterone needs not to be added. Testosterone improves dyspareunia, sexual desire, lubrication and satisfaction. DHEA (Prasterone) penetrates vaginal wall better. It increases elasticity and vascularity of vagina. RCTs have not shown benefits of it’s systemic therapy. But local daily administration of DHEA reduces dyspareunia and GSM so improves the quality of life. Ospemifene is well tolerated. It’s agonist effect on vaginal mucosa and antagonist effect on endometrium and breast, makes it promising. Lasofoxifene, third generation SERM, is also very effective but it needs FDA approval. Laser is widely being used and very effective. It is simple, faster, painless procedure. It activates dominant fibroblasts, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, thereby improves GSM & sexuality. Black cohosh, Botox, G-shot, probiotics, gabapentin are not yet evidence based. Still there is significant unmet need for medical treatment. Women reports GSM but that is only tip of iceberg. Good communication and optimum treatment only can break the sorrows GSM/VVA.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Obs/Gyne Department, Z. H. Sikder Women’s Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Obst/Gyne Department, Watford General Hospital, London, UK

  • Internal Medicine Department, Peterborough General Hospital, Peterborough, UK

  • Urology Department, Uclh Hospital, Euston Road, London, UK

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