Medical and patient attitude towards vaginal atrophy: the AGATA study

Abstract

Objectives: To provide data on current management of vaginal atrophy (VA) in a nationwide setting.

Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter study was made in 913 postmenopausal women consulting 22 gynecological outpatient services. VA was diagnosed with a combination of subjective symptoms and objective evaluations. Women with a previous diagnosis and those with a new diagnosis of VA filled additional questionnaires regarding modalities of VA management and reasons for missing diagnosis, respectively.

Results: 730/913 (80%) women had ever had a diagnosis of VA. In 274 (37.5%), the diagnosis was made prior to, and in 456 (62.5%) during the investigation. Of women with a new VA diagnosis, 81.1% had never discussed their symptoms with the health-care practitioner (HCP), and 78.7% (n = 359) had never been questioned by an HCP. Of women with a previous VA diagnosis, 90.2% had been treated with systemic (10.1%), local hormonal (49.4%) or local non-hormonal (30.5%) therapy. At the time of investigation, 61.9% of these women had stopped treatment, with only 3.3% having been successfully cured.

Conclusions: VA is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women. Its current management and treatment seem to be highly unsatisfactory and can be improved by medical sensitization and patient education.

Keywords:

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• vaginal health
• vaginal atrophy
• postmenopausal women
• vaginal treatments

Acknowledgements

Each of the authors significantly contributed to the design and data collection of the study and all authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Participants in the Atrophy of the vaGina in womAn in posT-menopause in itAly (AGATA) study for the Italian Society for the Menopause (SIM)

M. Bongiolatti (Gallarate); L. Cipolla (Garbagnate); R. Chionna (Milano); G. M Donvito (Peschiera del Garda); M. Bertezzolo (Conegliano Veneto); C. Schrettenbrunner, S. Messini (Bolzano); P. Mancino, A. Carrone, L. Riganelli, P. Benedetti-Panici (Roma); R. Lorefice, A. Di Francesco (Chieti-Lanciano); M. Torella (Napoli); A. Chiacchio (Lagonegro); F. Zullo (Catanzaro); A. Cianci (Catania); R. Daguati, I. Baini (Milano); P. Villa, C. Moruzzi, L. Vacca, E. Tempestilli (Roma); C. Demetrio (Ferrara); A. Cagnacci, F. Palma, C. Romani, A. Volpe (Modena); A. Becorpi, Z. Tredici (Firenze); N. Surico, D. Surico, S. Zorzetti Cigna, L. Leo (Novara); C. Di Carlo (Napoli); P. G. Zampi, C. Pellegrini, F. Quaglia (Brescia); M. Ciammella (Seriate), A. Gambera (Brescia).

Conflict of interest

Angelo Cagnacci has served as advisory board member or speaker for MSD, Bayer Italia, Gedeon-Richter, Teva Italia, Zambon Italia, HRA Pharma, Shanogi Italia. None of the other writing authors declares any conflict of interest with the study.

Source of funding

The study was supported by an unrestricted grant from the Italian Society for the Menopause (SIM). None of the writing authors received specific funding for this study.