Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: optimization of therapyfor vaginal symptoms

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of atrophic changes оn the use of low-dose regimens of local therapy with a druge containing only estriol and a druge containing estriol, progesterone and a culture of lactobacilli in patients with postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy on the basis of subjective and objective criteria. Materials and methods. 44 patients with vulvovaginal atrophy were randomized into 2 groups of 22 people. In the first group, a drug containing estriol in a dose of 0.5 mg was used, in the second group, a preparation containing a lyophilized culture of lactobacilli, estriol - 0.2 mg; progesterone - 2.0 mg was used. Methods of the study included questioning of patients, cytological examination of the vaginal wall with evaluation of the epithelial maturation index, pH-metrics of the vaginal secretion, definition of the vaginal health index (IVS), PCR diagnostics of the vaginal biocenosis. Results. The use of a low-dose regimen of local therapy with estriol contributed to the restoration of the vaginal epithelium, which was confirmed by a statistically significant increase in ISEV and IVS, in the number of lactobacilli and a decrease in pH, However, the use of a combination drug led to a more effective recovery of lactoflora and normalization of the vaginal microflora.

Keywords

• genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• vulvovaginal atrophy
• local estrogens
• vaginal dryness
• dyspareunia
• postmenopause
• lactobacillus