Menopause, aging and the failing pelvic floor: a clinician’s view

Abstract

The management of pelvic organ disorders is common and challenging work. Nowadays, midlife women are more active than they were in the past, and the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) disrupts quality of life and impairs social and personal activities. The aging process and hormonal changes have a role in influencing the structure and function of the lower urinary and genital tract. Correct diagnosis of pelvic organ disorders and the identification of women’s symptoms are the hallmarks of tailored management. Treatment is multimodal and multidisciplinary; it requires competence in pelvic medicine and surgery. When conservative treatments fail, women with symptomatic POP are candidates for reconstructive surgery: the optimal management requires clinicians who are familiar with all of the available strategies and who are able to choose the best strategies in a tailored manner. Knowing and understanding the management of POP should be integrated into the practice of health-care professionals dealing in menopause.

绝经、衰老和盆底功能减退：临床医生的观点 摘要

盆腔脏器疾病的治疗是一项常见而富有挑战性的工作。目前, 中年女性性生活比过去此年龄段的女性性活跃度更高, 盆腔器官脱垂(POP)扰乱了生活质量, 影响了社会和个人活动。衰老过程和激素的变化对下泌尿道和生殖道的结构和功能有影响。盆腔器官疾病的正确诊断和症状的识别是开始制定治疗的标志。治疗是多模式和多学科的；需要在盆腔医学和外科进行。当保守治疗失败时, 有症状的POP患者可以进行重建手术：最佳的治疗需要临床医生熟悉所有可用的治疗方案, 并能够以个体化的方式选择最佳治疗方案。对POP患者的了解和理解也应纳入处理绝经问题的医疗卫生人员的实践中。

Keywords:

• Aging
• genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• menopause
• pelvic organ prolapse

Potential conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Source of funding

No funding was received for the preparation of this review.