Urogynecological effects of menopause

Abstract

The menopause signifies a period after significant hormonal change that affects all estrogen-sensitive tissues. This change may result in symptoms affecting any part of the urogenital system. These changes can significantly affect women’s health and quality of life. The menopause is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms, vulvovaginal symptoms and pelvic organ prolapse. In this article, we have aimed to describe the symptomatology along with pathophysiology of the effects of menopause on urogynecological problems affecting women’s health. Other factors apart from menopause add to these symptoms, like parity, mode of delivery, obesity, smoking and poor psychological health.

Keywords::

• lower urinary tract symptoms
• menopause
• pelvic organ prolapse
• sexual function
• urinary incontinence
• urogenital symptoms
• vulvovaginal atrophy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

P Toozs-Hobson has done consultancy and received funding to attend meetings from Astellas and Allergan. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Vulvovaginal and prolapse symptoms along with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with menopause, can have a direct effect on all the dimensions of women’s sexual function and psychological wellbeing.

• They are less likely to report vaginal soreness, itching or dyspareunia and more likely to report urinary urgency and vaginal discharge [54]. Often, urogenital atrophy is progressive and can cause long-term discomfort and urinary and sexual health problems.

• Due to changing demographics of the population, postmenopausal women will constitute a larger proportion of the population in the near future.

• Women are becoming more aware of seeking help for their urogynecological problems.

• Clinicians interacting with women at the time of menopause have a vital opportunity to offer them the benefits of evaluation of pelvic floor dysfunction and appropriate management in the primary and secondary healthcare settings.