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Abstract
Objective To assess knowledge of vaginal atrophy among women using the Vaginal Health: Insights, Views & Attitudes (VIVA) survey.
Methods A structured online questionnaire was used to obtain information from 3520 postmenopausal women aged 55–65 years living in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
Results In total, 45% of women reported experiencing vaginal symptoms. Only 4% of women attributed these symptoms to vaginal atrophy, and 63% failed to recognize vaginal atrophy as a chronic condition. Overall, 44% of respondents did not have a gynecologist, but this percentage varied between countries. Most women (75%) felt that vaginal atrophy had a negative impact on life, but this perception also showed country-specific differences. Most Finnish respondents (76%) were satisfied with the amount of information available about vaginal atrophy, compared with just 37–42% of women from other countries. Most women used over-the-counter products for vaginal atrophy symptoms, but specific means of treating the underlying cause were less well known. Almost half (46%) of all respondents lacked knowledge about local estrogen therapy, with women in Great Britain, the United States and Canada being most likely to lack knowledge of such treatment. Overall, 30% of women would consider taking local estrogen therapy, with vaginal tablets being the preferred option in all countries.
Conclusion Postmenopausal women have a low understanding of vaginal atrophy. Medical practitioners should proactively raise this topic, help patients to understand that vaginal atrophy is a chronic condition, and discuss treatment options. Country-specific approaches may be required.
Conflict of interest R. E. Nappi is a consultant to, and researcher for, Novo Nordisk. M. Kokot-Kierepa is an employee of Novo Nordisk FemCare AG, Switzerland.
Source of funding The VIVA survey was commissioned by Novo Nordisk FemCare AG, Switzerland. The results have been presented at the 13th World Congress on Menopause (June 2011). Assistance with writing this manuscript was provided by Monica Nicosia and Andy Lockley of Bioscript Stirling Ltd, UK, and funded by Novo Nordisk FemCare AG, Switzerland.