The European Vulvovaginal Epidemiological Survey (EVES): prevalence, symptoms and impact of vulvovaginal atrophy of menopause

Abstract

Objectives: The primary objective of the European Vulvovaginal Epidemiological Survey (EVES) was to assess, at a country level, the prevalence of postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) confirmed by gynecological clinical assessment among all postmenopausal women attending menopause centers.

Method: Women aged 45-75 years old with their last menstrual period more than 12 months before and who attended menopause or gynecology centers were included. If they had at least one VVA symptom, women filled a number of questionnaires including the EuroQoL-EQ-5D3L and Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA). Then a gynecological examination was performed to confirm the VVA diagnosis.

Results: A total of 2160 evaluable patients were included in the study. VVA was confirmed in 90% of the patients. Compared with patients without confirmed VVA (n = 206), patients with confirmed VVA (n = 1954) were significantly older (p < 0.001), had more severe symptoms (p < 0.001 for vaginal and vulvar symptoms, p < 0.05 for urinary ones) and had a lower quality of life as assessed by EQ-5D3L (p = 0.012) and DIVA (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: VVA is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women. Gynecological clinical assessment of VVA is associated with severe symptoms and impaired quality of life and therefore should be promoted for appropriate clinical assessment and early therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: DIVA; EQ-5D3L; Vulvovaginal atrophy; gynecological examination; menopause; prevalence.