Impact of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause on Sexual Functioning and Overall Quality of Life of Egyptian Menopausal Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University

Abstract

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause and assess its effect on sexual functioning and overall quality of life of Egyptian postmenopausal women using the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging questionnaire.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included menopausal women aged 40-75 years presenting to a gynecology outpatient clinic. Diagnosis of genitourinary syndrome of menopause required at least two symptoms or one symptom and one sign and was confirmed by clinical examination. Diagnosed women had their quality of life assessed using an Arabic-translated version of the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging questionnaire. The questionnaire was clearly and comprehensively translated following the cross-cultural adaptation guidelines for quality-of-life measures.
Results: The prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause was 89.9%. The most prevalent symptoms were vaginal dryness (91.1%), inadequate vaginal lubrication with sexual activity (87.9%), and dyspareunia (83.2%). The most prevalent signs were decreased moisture (92.1%), loss of vaginal rugae (81%), and decreased vaginal elasticity (64.9%). The mean overall score derived from the questionnaire was 1.22 denoting moderate impact on overall quality of life. The greatest impact of vaginal symptoms on quality of life affected sexual functioning. Longer duration of menopause (>5 years) was associated with worse impact on sexual functioning and emotional wellbeing domains of the questionnaire.
Conclusion: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is highly prevalent among Egyptian postmenopausal women and its symptoms significantly impair their quality of life. The progressive nature of the condition emphasizes the need for early identification and proper management.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics