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The Impact of Vulvovaginal Atrophy on Sexual Health and Quality of Life at Postmenopause
05/21/2025

This paper dives into how vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) — the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to estrogen loss — affects postmenopausal women. The authors review both clinical findings and large patient surveys, analyzing how widespread and disruptive VVA really is.

Who was involved:

The study is a literature review by European menopause specialists and gynecologists, combining findings from observational studies, cross-sectional surveys, and clinical trials. It didn’t test new treatments but focused on interpreting real-world data.

What they found:

  • VVA affects up to 50–70% of postmenopausal women, yet most never bring it up with their doctor.
  • Symptoms — like vaginal dryness, irritation, and painful sex — don’t usually improve without treatment and can progressively worsen.
  • The condition impacts more than just sex; it reduces quality of life, sleep, confidence, and intimate relationships.
  • Despite effective treatments (like local estrogen therapy), underdiagnosis is common because women either normalize their symptoms or feel embarrassed to seek help.

Why it matters:
VVA isn’t a “nuisance” issue — it’s a chronic, under-discussed medical condition with a profound impact on well-being. This paper encourages clinicians to proactively ask patients about symptoms and guide them toward treatment.

Link: PubMed Abstract