Journal of Menopausal Medicine

Vaginal bleeding is reported among 4%-11% of postmenopausal women. Hematometra is commonly associated with cervical stenosis due to senile atrophy, radiotherapy, or a uterine neoplastic lesion in women of postmenopausal age. Ovarian steroid cell tumor is a rare hormone-secreting tumor subtype accounting for approximately 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. Here we report a case of hematometra in a postmenopausal woman with high estrogen levels who was later diagnosed with a steroid cell tumor.

Gossypiboma refers to a mass usually made of cotton (e.g., surgical gauze or sponge) that is accidentally left in a patient's body during surgery. We report the case of a 54-year-old multigravida menopausal woman who previously underwent cesarean section to deliver her second child. She was referred to our medical center after a 7 cm right ovarian mass with malignant potential was discovered. A diagnostic laparotomy was performed then confirmed the presence of a 10 cm gossypiboma attached to a metallic ring...

Labial adhesions in postmenopausal women are caused by various inflammatory processes in the context of estrogen deficiency. Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by idiopathic epithelial thinning of the anogenital region with symptoms of significant pruritus, discomfort, and dyspareunia. Early diagnosis and treatment of LS can prevent disease progression, leading to labial adhesions and malignancy. We present an 84-year-old woman with long-standing vulvar Hailey-Hailey disease who developed labial adhesions...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on heavy menstrual bleeding in perimenopausal women. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational clinical study conducted on 42 perimenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding who met the study eligibility criteria. LNG-IUS was inserted in the postmenstrual phase following baseline evaluation. The patients were followed up at the 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC) score, hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels, and endometrial thickness were assessed before insertion and during the follow-up visits...

OBJECTIVES: Sexual activity tends to decline with age and is greatly impacted in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to describe the sexual activity pattern among postmenopausal Nigerian women and also detect socio-demographic and menopause-related predictors of their sexual activity. METHODS: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 357 postmenopausal women between 45-60 years participated. Data was collected using the sexual activity questionnaire and a socio-demographic questionnaire developed by the authors...

OBJECTIVES: To compare the trabecular bone score (TBS) between Thai postmenopausal women with and without major osteoporotic fracture, and to determine whether TBS is associated with fracture risk. METHODS: All postmenopausal women sent for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the Police General Hospital were retrospectively recruited. The hospital's online database and radiographs were reviewed to collect information on underlying disease, medication, previous fractures, bone mineral density, and trabecular bone score...

The most common type of urinary incontinence in women is stress urinary incontinence (SUI) which negatively impacts several aspects of life. The newly introduced vaginal laser therapy is being considered for treating SUI. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of vaginal laser therapy for stress urinary incontinence in menopausal women. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, Web of Science, clinical trial registry platforms, and Google Scholar, using the MeSH terms and keywords [Urinary Incontinence, Stress] and [(lasers) OR laser]...

Recently, gender-affirming hormone therapy for gender incongruence has become an issue in various countries and organizations with various guidelines. In South Korea, several clinical treatments are also used with many possible options. These treatments include masculinizing (female-to-male [FTM]) or feminizing (male-to-female [MTF]) hormone therapies, with regimens usually driven by standards of hormonal replacement therapy for hypogonadism (i.e., hypogonadal natal men and postmenopausal women). This cross-sex hormone therapy can change patients' physical appearance to better match their gender identity and expression...

The concept of a super-aged society has led to a steady increase in the average lifespan and hence, interest in a healthy life has increased. Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases, including osteoporosis. Osteoporotic fractures have a significant impact on the quality of life of the elderly and hence, it is pivotal to provide effective treatment of osteoporosis after menopause. Osteoporosis requires proper management and the treatment must be centered on long-term goals. New drugs with diverse mechanisms have been developed for treating osteoporosis...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare histological outcomes between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women with cervical cytological abnormalities and to investigate the clinical factors affecting the misinterpretation of cytology and histology. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 599 patients with abnormal cervical cytology who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) between January 2010 and May 2019. Baseline characteristics were collected, including age, height, weight, body mass index, gravity, parity, and menopausal status...

OBJECTIVES: Greenhouse workers synthesize less vitamin D because ultraviolet light is blocked by the vinyl that covers the greenhouses. This study aimed to investigate the vitamin D status and bone health of postmenopausal women working in greenhouses. METHODS: This observational study enrolled women living in urban (n = 70, group 1) and rural areas (n = 91, group 2) and those working in greenhouses (n = 112, group 3). Serum levels of total and bioavailable 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and vitamin D binding protein were measured...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the effect of ultralow dose 0.005% estriol vaginal gel in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: In this prospective and multicenter single-arm study, efficacy was assessed by the evaluation of the epithelial maturation value (MV), vaginal pH, symptoms and signs of vulvovaginal atrophy. Tolerability, acceptability, and the effect on intimate relationships were also evaluated. RESULTS: We included 35 postmenopausal women with moderate-to-severe vaginal dryness...

OBJECTIVES: Female sexual and reproductive health is heavily influenced by the levels and ratios of Lactobacilli species and vaginal cytokines. Menopause marks a profound body change as it shifts to a natural and permanent non-reproductive state. Vulvovaginal diseases encompass a broad variety of sexual health conditions. Furthermore, both menopause and vulvovaginal diseases affect vaginal Lactobacilli and cytokine levels. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between menopause, vulvovaginal diseases, and vaginal Lactobacilli and cytokine levels...

Several studies have examined the clinical benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, because long-term use of HRT has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of breast cancer, some women remain skeptical when considering this therapy to address their vasomotor symptoms. Hence, physicians and nurses should actively engage in constructive discourse with their patients regarding HRT while specifically reviewing the potential risks of its extended use as well as provide the available medical alternatives the patients could potentially use...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Lichen simplex chronicus commonly presents as a distressing vaginal lesion caused by severe, cyclical itch-scratch behavior. Lichen simplex chronicus is diagnosed by obtaining a detailed medical history, performing a physical exam, and recording of self-reported symptoms. Lichen simplex chronicus can be treated by corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antiepileptics, antihistamines, antidepressants, and phototherapy. Our case describes a 55-year-old female patient who presented to a clinic with recurrent vaginal itching, combined with compulsive scratching behavior that disrupted daily functioning...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to further explore the efficacy and safety of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a simple herbal formula, for improving the quality of life of women suffering from menopausal symptoms. METHODS: A third clinical trial to determine the clinical efficacy of high-dose DBT for a period of 12 weeks was carried out. The standard Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) assessment chart was used for the evaluation. Safety was defined as an absence of direct estrogenic effects, serum inflammatory cytokines...

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the effects of combination oral contraceptives (COCs) on bone mineral density (BMD) and metabolism in perimenopausal Korean women. METHODS: The study subjects comprised two groups. The COC group included 55 women who took low-dose COC for at least one year to control vasomotor symptoms. Another 55 women who had annual checkups without history of COC use served as controls. BMD and bone turnover markers were assessed periodically...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the climacteric symptoms, quality of life indices, and self-care attitudes in women before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and September 2021. The sample consisted of 342 climacteric women who were divided into two groups: before the pandemic (BP group; n = 62) and during the pandemic (DP group; n = 280). The Menopause Rating Scale and Women's Health Questionnaire were used to measure the health-related quality of life and degree of climacteric symptoms reported by women...

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause significantly affects the quality of life in postmenopausal women with few evidence-based alternatives to vaginal estrogen for women with contraindications. This systematic review evaluates the evidence for vaginal vitamin E efficacy in reducing patient-reported genitourinary symptoms in healthy postmenopausal women compared to placebo or vaginal control therapy. This systematic review evaluated randomized controlled trials before October 2020 that assessed the efficacy of vitamin E vaginal suppositories in reducing genitourinary symptoms in postmenopausal women compared with a control group of healthy postmenopausal women...