Severe Postmenopausal Genital Pain Treated Successfully With Prolonged Estrogen Therapy: A Case Series and Narrative Review

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, and Differential Diagnosis

Scientific information is incomplete regarding the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Both the lower genital and urinary tracts are rich in receptors for reproductive hormones and are highly susceptible to waning ovarian hormones at menopause. Symptoms of dryness and pain emerge in late perimenopause, but they can also result earlier from cancer therapies or bilateral oophorectomy. Lower urinary tract symptoms rise in prevalence at midlife and increase further with advancing age. Because ovarian senescence is typically followed by years of aging, some postmenopausal complaints may be attributable to increasing longevity.

Validation of a clinical tool for vestibular trophism in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop and validate a clinical tool to assess vestibular trophism in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the principal investigator's center and three external reviewers assessed the vestibular images of postmenopausal women using a multi-item tool defined as vestibular trophic health (VeTH), which assessed five criteria: petechiae, pallor, thinning, dryness and redness. Dryness, dyspareunia, vulvar pain and the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Analysis of the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.76; confidence interval 0.62-0.82) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.78; confidence interval 0.64) indicated an inter-rater reliability and reproducibility of VeTH in the 70 women enrolled in the study. The observed covariance between a high VeTH score and the symptom severity demonstrated a significant correlation, which was not evident between VeTH and the total VHI score.

CONCLUSIONS

The vulvar vestibule is the main location of genital tenderness, primarily responsible for burning/pain and entry dyspareunia because of its capacity to develop an excess of nociceptors upon sexual hormone deprivation. Our study indicated that VeTH can be a reproducible tool for the morphological classification of vestibular trophism and bears a significant correlation with the severity of the symptoms.

Comparing Vestibule Examination Techniques: Light Touch, Serial Forces, and the Lidocaine Test

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare techniques and pain scales that assess tenderness in the vulvar vestibule in provoked vestibulodynia, using the cotton swab test and a vulvalgesiometer, and assess topical lidocaine solution with each.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized study at a specialty vulvar clinic evaluated tender vestibules of reproductive-aged women with vestibulodynia using light rolling cotton swab touch at 6 sites and evaluated the vulvalgesiometer at 2 sites, randomizing the order of the initial tool. Participants reported pain using the Numerical Rating Scale 0-10 and the Verbal Pain Scale 0-3. With the vulvalgesiometer, the pain tolerance threshold was measured using forces of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 g. After both initial tests, lidocaine 4% topical solution was applied for 3 minutes, and the swab test and vulvalgesiometer were repeated in the order initially performed, constituting the lidocaine test. Data analysis used t tests, Fisher exact tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and Spearman rank correlation.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients completed the study, 8 starting with each instrument. Light swab touch evoked significant pain, and lidocaine reduced pain to zero or mild levels. The pain threshold was 25 g, and only 38% could tolerate testing past 100 g without lidocaine. The Verbal Pain Scale correlated well with the Numerical Rating Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Light rolling cotton swab touch using the 4-item verbal scale can map vestibulodynia tenderness that can be extinguished by lidocaine, consistent with distinguishing a mucosal condition. Forces by vulvalgesiometer of greater than 100-200 g may evoke pain other than mucosal allodynia.