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Medical and surgical strategies for treating urogynecological disorders

Samsioe, Göran LU (1996) In International Journal of Fertility and Menopausal Studies 41(2). p.136-141
Abstract
Symptoms and signs of the urogenital estrogen deficiency syndrome occur relatively late in a women's life when endogenous estrogen levels are well below those required to stimulate endometrial growth. At age 60 and above symptoms are common and progress with advancing age. The first and most common complaint is vaginal dryness, but symptoms of lost control of micturition as well as urge incontinence are also frequent. Recurrent infections of the lower urinary tract are common, as well as dyspareunia and a sensation of burning and itching. One third of women above age 60 suffer from urogenital estrogen deficiency syndromes, a figure that rises to two thirds at the age of 75. With a rapid growth of the elderly female population, these... (More)
Symptoms and signs of the urogenital estrogen deficiency syndrome occur relatively late in a women's life when endogenous estrogen levels are well below those required to stimulate endometrial growth. At age 60 and above symptoms are common and progress with advancing age. The first and most common complaint is vaginal dryness, but symptoms of lost control of micturition as well as urge incontinence are also frequent. Recurrent infections of the lower urinary tract are common, as well as dyspareunia and a sensation of burning and itching. One third of women above age 60 suffer from urogenital estrogen deficiency syndromes, a figure that rises to two thirds at the age of 75. With a rapid growth of the elderly female population, these symptoms are an increasing burden to the individual as well as to any given health care system. Several clinical trials have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy in alleviating these symptoms of low daily estrogen doses as exemplified by 8 micrograms/day of vaginally administered estradiol. For reasons not completely understood, the urogenital tissues respond to this low estrogen level but the endometrium does not. Hence, estrogen therapy aiming at mitigating urogenital deficiency symptoms could be given without a progestogen. No side effects have been described for vaginal preparations, and neither absolute nor relative contraindications exist. No protection is offered against cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis, though. In 1991, vaginal low-dose estrogens were declared OTC preparations in Sweden. The costs for the society for this program can be limited to the costs of medication only, for medical monitoring is not compulsory. The clinical efficiency is remarkable, and urogenital symptoms are almost abolished in elderly women receiving this type of treatment, which is practically devoid of side effects. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Fertility and Menopausal Studies
volume
41
issue
2
pages
136 - 141
publisher
Medical Science Publishing International
external identifiers
  • pmid:8829692
  • scopus:0029918479
ISSN
1069-3130
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ec98b0b8-4f76-42df-99d3-a84c6b71bf04 (old id 1110998)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:51:40
date last changed
2022-01-28 22:39:29
@article{ec98b0b8-4f76-42df-99d3-a84c6b71bf04,
  abstract     = {{Symptoms and signs of the urogenital estrogen deficiency syndrome occur relatively late in a women's life when endogenous estrogen levels are well below those required to stimulate endometrial growth. At age 60 and above symptoms are common and progress with advancing age. The first and most common complaint is vaginal dryness, but symptoms of lost control of micturition as well as urge incontinence are also frequent. Recurrent infections of the lower urinary tract are common, as well as dyspareunia and a sensation of burning and itching. One third of women above age 60 suffer from urogenital estrogen deficiency syndromes, a figure that rises to two thirds at the age of 75. With a rapid growth of the elderly female population, these symptoms are an increasing burden to the individual as well as to any given health care system. Several clinical trials have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy in alleviating these symptoms of low daily estrogen doses as exemplified by 8 micrograms/day of vaginally administered estradiol. For reasons not completely understood, the urogenital tissues respond to this low estrogen level but the endometrium does not. Hence, estrogen therapy aiming at mitigating urogenital deficiency symptoms could be given without a progestogen. No side effects have been described for vaginal preparations, and neither absolute nor relative contraindications exist. No protection is offered against cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis, though. In 1991, vaginal low-dose estrogens were declared OTC preparations in Sweden. The costs for the society for this program can be limited to the costs of medication only, for medical monitoring is not compulsory. The clinical efficiency is remarkable, and urogenital symptoms are almost abolished in elderly women receiving this type of treatment, which is practically devoid of side effects.}},
  author       = {{Samsioe, Göran}},
  issn         = {{1069-3130}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{136--141}},
  publisher    = {{Medical Science Publishing International}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Fertility and Menopausal Studies}},
  title        = {{Medical and surgical strategies for treating urogynecological disorders}},
  volume       = {{41}},
  year         = {{1996}},
}