Vaginal Health: Insights, Views & Attitudes (VIVA-LATAM): results from a survey in Latin America

Abstract

Objective: To investigate awareness in Latin America, knowledge of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy was evaluated in a sample of women from this region.

Methods: A total of 2509 postmenopausal women aged 55–65 years, resident in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, completed a structured online questionnaire.

Results: Over half the surveyed population (57%) reported experiencing symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Only 6% of the overall cohort attributed symptoms of vaginal atrophy directly to the condition, and 71% did not consider the condition to be chronic, resulting in many women not accessing effective therapy. Half the women (49%) affected by vaginal atrophy had used lubricating gels and creams; 36% had used some form of local hormone treatment. To understand symptoms and/or treatment options for vaginal discomfort, the majority of survey participants (92%) were willing to seek advice from health-care professionals; most (61%) felt/would feel comfortable talking to their doctor about this.

Conclusion: Many women in Latin America lack knowledge of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy, not appreciating the chronic nature of the condition, and may benefit from dialog initiated by health-care professionals to facilitate greater understanding and increased awareness of the availability of effective treatment.

Keywords:

• Attitude
• genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• Latin American women
• local estrogen therapy
• menopause
• survey
• vaginal atrophy
• vaginal health

Acknowledgements

Medical writing support for this manuscript was provided by Andy Lockley of Bioscript Medical, UK, and funded by Novo Nordisk Health Care AG, Switzerland.

Conflict of interest

Rossella Elena Nappi has a financial relationship (lecturer, member of advisory boards and/or consultant) with Bayer HealthCare, Endoceutics, Gedeon Richter, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Shionogi, Teva and Zambon SpA. Nilson Roberto de Melo, Mabel Martino and Cuauhtémoc Celis-González have no conflicts of interest. Paulina Villaseca has participated in advisory boards for Amgen and Novo Nordisk. Sebastian Röhrich is an employee of Novo Nordisk. Santiago Palacios has been a symposium speaker or advisory board member for Abbott, Amgen, Bioiberica, Ferrer, Gedeon Richter, GSK, Mylan, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sérélys Pharma, Servier and Shionogi; he has also received research grants and/or consulting fees from Amgen, Bayer, Gedeon Richter, MSD, Pfizer, Procare, Servier and Syneron Candela.

Source of funding

The VIVA-LATAM survey was commissioned by Novo Nordisk Health Care AG, Switzerland.