Vulvovaginal atrophy: current methods of diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Aim. To review modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), which is one of the manifestations of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in periand postmenopausal women.Materials and methods. A review of domestic and foreign literature on the prevalence and modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of VVA was carried out.Results. Unlike vasomotor symptoms, VVA progresses with age, causing a significant impairment in women’s quality of life. Symptoms usually begin to bother perimenopausal patients, but their frequency and severity increase significantly in postmenopausal women. Diagnosis of VVA can present some difficulties, as many women perceive their condition as a natural manifestation of aging and do not seek medical care. Currently, drug and non-drug therapies for VVA have been proposed, each of which has its own characteristics, indications, and contraindications. However, the safety and effectiveness of some of them have not been fully proven.Conclusion. VVA is common in periand postmenopausal women. Modern aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with VVA symptoms. However, further research is needed to confirm safety of the proposed treatment methods, and search for new techniques is required.