ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a best practice document for the management of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). METHOD: Literature review carried out using clinical terms, treatments or interventions and comorbidity related to VVA. RESULTS: There is a wide variety of interventions that may produce temporal benefits for VVA. However, there are significant limitations in scientific publications concerning VVA and related issues, including variable outcome evaluations, variability in population age range, and small, often underpowered sample sizes. Therapeutic management of VVA should follow a sequential order, considering women's age, symptoms, general health as well as treatment preference. Beneficial options include lubricants, moisturizers, vaginal estrogens (estradiol, estriol, promestriene, conjugated estrogens), androgens, prasterone, and laser application. In women with general menopausal symptoms who are candidates for systemic hormone therapy, the lowest effective dose should be used. Oral ospemifene is an effective selective estrogen receptor modulator to treat VVA. Systemic androgens have a limited role. Although laser procedures are commonly used, at this moment the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease does not endorse its use out of the setting of clinical trials. Pelvic floor muscle training improves blood flow and elasticity of the vulvovaginal tissue. In breast cancer survivors, moisturizers and lubricants are first line therapy. However, limited absorption of low/ultra-low doses of estrogens suggests safety, especially in women under treatment with aromatase inhibitors. As clinical practice and available preparations vary between countries this text should be adapted to local circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide range of therapeutic options to individualize VVA treatments.
Subject(s)
Postmenopause/physiology , Vagina/pathology , Vaginal Diseases/therapy , Vulva/pathology , Vulvar Diseases/therapy , Administration, Intravaginal , Atrophy , Breast Neoplasms , Dehydroepiandrosterone/administration & dosage , Estrogens/administration & dosage , Estrogens/therapeutic use , Female , Hormone Replacement Therapy , Humans , Laser Therapy , Lubricants/administration & dosage , Pelvic Floor , Testosterone/administration & dosageABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that 50% of women will suffer a severe form of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) related to menopause. Equally, young women may temporarily present this clinical problem while receiving various pharmacological or endocrine treatments or radiotherapy. AIM: To determine clinical and diagnostic exams required to confirm the presence of VVA (also referred to as atrophic vaginitis, urogenital atrophy, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause) and rule out other genital or pelvic clinical conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature review searches were carried out on the main scientific article search engines (PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane) using different clinical terms, treatments or interventions and comorbidity related to VVA. RESULTS: The development and severity of VVA depend mainly on the duration of hypoestrogenism. Hypoestrogenism causes changes in the urogenital tissue, generating signs and symptoms, such as dryness, burning, soreness, itching, and irritation of the genital skin. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis (patient history), questionnaires, physical exam, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be completed with the Vaginal Health Index, the Vaginal Maturation Index, or vaginal pH in the absence of infection or semen. The exclusion of other vulvovaginal organic pathology is essential to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide adequate treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The specialist should be able to identify VVA, rule out other pathologies that make a differential diagnosis and conduct proper management.
Subject(s)
Postmenopause/physiology , Vagina/pathology , Vulva/pathology , Atrophic Vaginitis/diagnosis , Atrophic Vaginitis/physiopathology , Atrophic Vaginitis/therapy , Atrophy , Diagnosis, Differential , Dyspareunia/diagnosis , Dyspareunia/physiopathology , Estrogens/deficiency , Female , Female Urogenital Diseases/diagnosis , Female Urogenital Diseases/physiopathology , Humans , Surveys and Questionnaires , Syndrome , Urogenital Diseases , Vaginal Diseases/diagnosis , Vaginal Diseases/physiopathology , Vulvar Diseases/diagnosis , Vulvar Diseases/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Estuda a prevalência de lesões intra-epiteliais cervicais de alto grau e a influência de variáveis clínicas, laboratoriais e comportamentais em pacientes infectadas pelo HIV
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia , HIV , Sexually Transmitted DiseasesABSTRACT
O número de mulheres infectadas pelo HIV tem aumentado e a sua consequente imunossupressäo, alterado a história natural do HPV. O HPV, em especial o de alto risco oncogênico, é considerado agente principal das lesöes precursoras do cäncer cérvico-uterino. Por isso,o grupo de mulheres soropositivas apresenta maior incidência de CIN
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia , HIV , HIV Seroprevalence , Papillomaviridae , Sexually Transmitted DiseasesABSTRACT
O número crescente de mulheres vivendo com HIV/AIDS é um fato dominante na evoluçäo desta epidemia no País. Estudo da prevalência das neoplasias intra-epiteliais e das lesöes HPV induzidas em mulheres HIV soro positivas e com AIDS, a distribuiçäo destas les0es no trato genital inferior e seu grau histopatológico, correlacionando-os com a contagem de linfócitos T CD
