TY - JOUR
T1 - Macro-regional variation in attitudes toward and experiences of vulvar and vaginal atrophy among Italian post-menopausal women
T2 - a post hoc analysis of REVIVE survey data
AU - Nappi, Rossella E.
AU - Particco, Martire
AU - Biglia, Nicoletta
AU - Cagnacci, Angelo
AU - Di Carlo, Costantino
AU - Luisi, Stefano
AU - Paoletti, Anna Maria
PY - 2017/5/4
Y1 - 2017/5/4
N2 - Italian participants in the European REVIVE survey reported that vaginal and vulvar atrophy (VVA) impaired various aspects of their lives, notably the ability to enjoy sex. The aim of the present study was to explore regional differences in knowledge, experiences, and treatment of VVA in the Italian REVIVE sample (n = 1000), which was analyzed according to region of residence. While many respondents were unfamiliar with the VVA condition, most could relate their VVA symptoms to the menopause. The rate of diagnosis of VVA was twice as high in Central Italy as in the North-East. For individual VVA symptoms, 25.4–41.6% of respondents judged that the symptom had worsened over time. There were no significant regional differences for symptoms in terms of reported rate, change in severity, impact on sexual activity, or health-care visits. Testosterone cream and OTC medication based on hyaluronic acid showed significant regional differences in lifetime rates of use. In Italy, there are modest regional differences in knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of VVA, some of which may be explained by inter-regional differences in health care. Further efforts are needed to ensure that Italian women are properly informed about VVA and have access to appropriate health care and treatments.
AB - Italian participants in the European REVIVE survey reported that vaginal and vulvar atrophy (VVA) impaired various aspects of their lives, notably the ability to enjoy sex. The aim of the present study was to explore regional differences in knowledge, experiences, and treatment of VVA in the Italian REVIVE sample (n = 1000), which was analyzed according to region of residence. While many respondents were unfamiliar with the VVA condition, most could relate their VVA symptoms to the menopause. The rate of diagnosis of VVA was twice as high in Central Italy as in the North-East. For individual VVA symptoms, 25.4–41.6% of respondents judged that the symptom had worsened over time. There were no significant regional differences for symptoms in terms of reported rate, change in severity, impact on sexual activity, or health-care visits. Testosterone cream and OTC medication based on hyaluronic acid showed significant regional differences in lifetime rates of use. In Italy, there are modest regional differences in knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of VVA, some of which may be explained by inter-regional differences in health care. Further efforts are needed to ensure that Italian women are properly informed about VVA and have access to appropriate health care and treatments.
KW - Dyspareunia
KW - Italian post-menopausal women
KW - REVIVE survey
KW - sexual relationships
KW - vaginal dryness
KW - vulvar and vaginal atrophy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013471806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85013471806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09513590.2017.1284783
DO - 10.1080/09513590.2017.1284783
M3 - Article
C2 - 28277131
AN - SCOPUS:85013471806
VL - 33
SP - 389
EP - 394
JO - Gynecological Endocrinology
JF - Gynecological Endocrinology
SN - 0951-3590
IS - 5
ER -