Atrophic vaginitis (AV) is common in postmenopausal women, but its causes are not well understood. The symptoms, which include vaginal itching, burning, dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia, can usually be alleviated by low doses of estrogen given orally or locally. Regrettably, the composition of vaginal bacterial communities in women with AV have not been fully characterized and little is kno...

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to assess endometrial histology in postmenopausal women not taking hormone replacement therapy, to evaluate side effects and efficacy of phytoestrogens in treating menopause-associated symptoms, and to determine whether 6 months of phytoestrogen supplementation altered endometrial histology. METHODS We performed a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, plac...

Objective To evaluate the impact of fractionated CO2 laser therapy on vaginal atrophy and mild/moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms in patients with physiological or surgically-induced menopause. Materials and Methods Post-menopausal patients (n = 33) presenting vaginal atrophy and/or SUI, underwent three vaginal CO2 laser treatment sessions, performed at 1-month intervals. Vag...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of thermo-ablative fractional CO2 laser for the treatment of symptoms related to vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA) in post-menopausal women. METHODS From April 2013 to December 2013, post-menopausal patients who complained of one or more VVA-related symptoms and who underwent vaginal treatment with fractional CO2 laser were enrolled in the study. A...

OBJECTIVE Lime has a long history as a contraceptive and vaginal hygiene douche, and ongoing use in Africa is documented. We report on the first safety study on diluted lime juice to assess its potential as a candidate microbicide. METHODS Twenty-five sexually abstinent women were randomly assigned to apply a 10% or 20% concentration of lime juice or 0% (water-only) through a soaked tampon on...

Management of breast cancer includes systematic therapies including chemotherapy and endocrine therapy can lead to a variety of symptoms that can impair the quality of life of many breast cancer survivors. Atrophic vaginitis, caused by decreased levels of circulating estrogen to urinary and vaginal receptors, is commonly experienced by this group. Chemotherapy induced ovarian failure and endocr...

The onset of menopause is unique to every woman with varying symptoms which have implications on health and well-being. This study evaluated the perception, knowledge and beliefs about menopause and the prevalence of climacteric symptoms. The study was a cross-sectional survey of 280 menopausal women aged 45 years and older in the Accra Metropolis of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Data on s...

INTRODUCTION With the population of cancer survivors nearing 12 million, an ever-increasing number of women will face vaginal health issues related to their disease and/or treatment. Abrupt menopause triggered by cancer treatment, for example, can cause intense and prolonged estrogen deprivation symptoms, including vaginal dryness and discomfort. Simple strategies to promote vaginal health are ...

Introduction Vaginal atrophy (VA) is an irreversible involution of the mucous membranes and tissues of the vagina following the drop in estrogen that commonly occurs in women during menopause (1). Due to a lengthening of the average lifespan and longer life expectancy after menopause, vaginal atrophy is destined to become a clinical problem with an increasingly greater epidemiological significa...

The involution of the female genital tract seems to reflect a built-in biological life expectancy, inter-related with the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-ovarian axis. Lower levels of oestradiol have a number of adverse effects, including on the lower urinary tract. The major universal change is vaginal atrophy. The vaginal mucosa becomes thinner and dry, which can produce vaginal discomfort, dryness,...