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

Murina, F., Torraca, M., Graziottin, A., Nappi, R. E., Villa, P., Cetin, I., Validation of a clinical tool for vestibular trophism in postmenopausal women, <<CLIMACTERIC>>, NA; 26 (2): 149-153. [doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2171287] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/232128]

Validation of a clinical tool for vestibular trophism in postmenopausal women

Villa, Paola;
2023

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate a clinical tool to assess vestibular trophism in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).MethodsIn 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.ResultsAnalysis 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.ConclusionsThe 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.
2023
Inglese
Murina, F., Torraca, M., Graziottin, A., Nappi, R. E., Villa, P., Cetin, I., Validation of a clinical tool for vestibular trophism in postmenopausal women, <<CLIMACTERIC>>, NA; 26 (2): 149-153. [doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2171287] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/232128]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/232128
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