1,721,015 research outputs found
2016 IMS Recommendations on womens midlife health and menopause hormone therapy
No full textThe International Menopause Society (IMS) has produced these new 2016 recommendations on womens midlife health and menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to help guide health-care professionals in optimizing their management of women in the menopause transition and beyond. The term MHT has been used to cover therapies including estrogens, progestogens and combined regimens. For the first time, the 2016 IMS recommendations now include grades of recommendations, levels of evidence and 'good practice points', in addition to section-specific references. Where possible, the recommendations are based on and linked to the evidence that supports them, unless good-quality evidence is absent. Particular attention has been paid to published evidence from 2013 onwards, the last time the IMS recommendations were updated. Databases have been extensively searched for relevant publications using key terms specific to each specialist area within menopause physiology and medicine. Information has also been drawn from international consensus statements published by bodies such as the IMS, the European Menopause and Andropause Society and the North American Menopause Society. The recommendations have been produced by experts derived mainly from the IMS, with the assistance of key collaborators where deemed advantageous. In preparing these international recommendations, experts have taken into account geographical variations in medical care, prevalence of diseases, and country-specific attitudes of the public, medical community and health authorities towards menopause management. The variation in availability and licensing of MHT and other products has also been considered
The European Menopause Survey 2005: women's perceptions on the menopause and postmenopausal hormone therapy
No full textOBJECTIVES:
To identify and describe current women's thoughts about the menopause, hormone treatment (HT) and perceptions about breast cancer.
METHODS:
Between December 2004 and January 2005, 4201 postmenopausal women in seven European countries were interviewed via a standardized computer-aided telephone interview protocol.
RESULTS:
Almost all women reported to have experienced climacteric symptoms, and 63% of the women rated them as being severe. Only 52% of women were aware of the benefits of HT for relief of climacteric symptoms. Although 84% felt that severe symptoms should be treated, only 40% had used HT at some point in time. Thirty-four percent of the women preferring treatment with natural products did so because of the risk of breast cancer associated with HT. HT was recognized by 59% of the women as one of the most important contributors to an increased breast cancer risk. Most women received their information about HT and breast cancer risk from the media.
CONCLUSIONS:
This European survey reveals that the majority of women experience climacteric symptoms but that their decision whether or not to use HT is highly dependent on their concern about breast cancer risk. An increase in knowledge of the benefits and risks of HT is required for women to make appropriate decisions about hormone use
The burden of vulvovaginal atrophy on women's daily living: Implications on quality of life from a face-to-face real-life survey
No full textSymptom severity and quality of life in the management of vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women
No full textThe European Vulvovaginal Epidemiological Survey (EVES): impact on sexual function of vulvovaginal atrophy of menopause
No full textOBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) on sexual function in a clinical population of postmenopausal women. METHODS: Women 45 to 75 years old and more than 12 months after the last menstruation, who attended menopausal/gynecological centers in Italy and Spain, were included. Women with at least one VVA symptom completed the following questionnaires: Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Female Sexual Distress Scale revised (FSDS-R). A physical gynecological examination was performed to confirm the VVA diagnosis. Data were analyzed by chi-square and Student's t tests. RESULTS: In all, 2,160 evaluable women were included in the study. VVA was confirmed in 90% of the included participants. The negative impact on sexual function was significantly higher in women with than in women without confirmed VVA, as evaluated with the sexual function component (DIVA-C) of the DIVA questionnaire (P = 0.013). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.0005) were also detected in the scores of overall FSDS-R, the overall FSFI, and of all the FSFI subdomains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). CONCLUSION: For postmenopausal women with at least one VVA symptom, the presence of physician-confirmed VVA is associated with significant impaired sexual function, as shown by unadjusted analyses. Given the impact on quality of life and the prevalence of VVA, further research to improve and reduce VVA is warranted
Vulvar and vaginal atrophy in four European countries: evidence from the European REVIVE Survey
No full textObjectives The aim of the European REVIVE survey was to achieve a better understanding of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), a chronic and progressive condition after menopause. We investigated perceptions, experiences and needs in terms of sexual and vaginal health in a sample of European postmenopausal women. Methods An online internet based survey was conducted in Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK with a total surveyed sample of 3768 postmenopausal women (age: 45-75 years). Results The most common VVA symptom was vaginal dryness (70%). VVA has a significant impact on the ability to be intimate (62%), to enjoy sexual intercourse (72%) and to feel sexual spontaneity (66%). Postmenopausal women with VVA are sexually active (51%), but their sexual drive is reduced. Health-care professionals (HCPs) have discussed VVA with postmenopausal women (62%), but they initiated the conversation only in 10% of the cases. The most common treatments for VVA are over-the-counter, non-hormonal, local vaginal products. Thirty-two per cent of postmenopausal women were naïve to any kind of treatment, whereas discussion with the HCP was relevant to be on current treatment (60% of postmenopausal women that discussed VVA with a HCP vs. 23% who did not). The top reasons for poor compliance with vaginal treatments were: not bothersome enough symptoms (18%); vaginal changes not therapeutically reversed (18%); relief from VVA symptoms (17%). Approximately 45% were satisfied with treatment. The most frequent disliked aspects of treatment were the route of administration or the messiness. The fear of hormones was common in postmenopausal women using vaginal prescription products. Conclusions The European REVIVE survey confirmed that VVA symptoms are frequent in postmenopausal women and demonstrates a significant impact on quality of life and sexual life. However, the condition is still under-diagnosed and under-treated, with a high rate of dissatisfaction for actual available treatments in the four European countries surveyed. The discussion of symptoms with HCPs seems the most critical factor for diagnosis and treatment of VVA
The clinical relevance of the effect of ospemifene on symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy.
No full textThe European Vulvovaginal Epidemiological Survey (EVES). Impact of history of breast cancer on prevalence, symptoms, sexual function and quality of life related to vulvovaginal atrophy
No full textObjective: Women with history of breast cancer (HBC) frequently suffer from vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). European Vulvovaginal Epidemiology Survey (EVES) sub-analysis assesses the impact of HBC on VVA, sexual life and quality of life (QoL) in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods: Women with at least one VVA symptom aged 45–75 years were included. EuroQol (EQ-5D-3L) and Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) questionnaires were filled to investigate QoL. VVA diagnosis was confirmed with objective gynecological examination. Comparison of postmenopausal women with and without HBC, and evaluation of treatment impact on VVA were performed. Results: 1985 postmenopausal women without HBC and 175 with HBC were included. VVA was confirmed in 90.4% of women without HBC and 91.4% of women with HBC. There were no differences in VVA symptoms severity or vulvovaginal discomfort between groups. However, women with HBC who had completed treatment and had surgery 11–20 years previously versus those without HBC presented significantly worse Vaginal Health Index scores, as well as a higher prevalence of VVA objective diagnosis, although their overall symptom severity score was lower. Health status and QoL comparisons were similar. Conclusions: Results support a similar burden in terms of VVA prevalence and symptoms, QoL and sexual function in postmenopausal women with and without HBC
Vulvar and vaginal atrophy in four European countries: Evidence from the European REVIVE Survey
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