To determine the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and urogynecological conditions associated with menopause, and to evaluate the impact of GSM on quality of life in a cohort of Spanish postmenopausal women.
Multicenter, cross-sectional, and observational study involving 430 women.
The prevalence of GSM was 70%. GSM was diagnosed in 60.2% of women with no known diagnosis of vulvovaginal atrophy or GSM. Most prevalent symptoms were vaginal dryness (93.3%) and reduced lubrication with sexual activity (90.0%). Most prevalent signs were decreased moisture (93.7%) and loss of vaginal rugae (78.4%). GSM was significantly associated with stress or mixed urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and vaginal prolapse. Symptoms showed a low-moderate impact on quality of life, mainly in sexual functioning and self-concept and body image.
The GSM is very prevalent in Spanish postmenopausal women, affecting up to 70% of those consulting the gynecologist. Despite the high prevalence of symptoms and signs and its impact on the women's well-being, GSM remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Given its relationship with urogynecological conditions, it seems necessary to provide an adequate evaluation of postmenopausal women for identifying potential co-morbidities and providing most adequate treatments. An adequate management of GSM will contribute to an improvement in the quality of life of these women.
Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society. 2018 Feb 07 [Epub ahead of print]
E Moral, J L Delgado, F Carmona, B Caballero, C Guillán, P M González, J Suárez-Almarza, S Velasco-Ortega, C Nieto, as the writing group of the GENISSE study
a Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología , Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra , Pontevedra , Spain., b Consulta de Ginecología Dr. Juan Luis Delgado , Murcia , Spain., c Servicio de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Neonatología , Hospital Clinic de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain., d Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología , Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda , Madrid , Spain., e Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología , Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de La Coruña , La Coruña , Spain., f Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología , Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo , Vigo , Spain., g Departamento Médico , ITF Research Pharma S.L.U. , Madrid , Spain.