The Gynogram: A Multicentric Validation of a New Psychometric Tool to Assess Coital Pain Associated With VVA and Its Impact on Sexual Quality of Life in Menopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Vulvo-Vaginal Atrophy (VVA) affects about fifty percent of postmenopausal women, contributing more vulnerable sexual and psycho-relational equilibrium. To date, no psychometric instruments have been designed to assess the impact of coital pain associated with VVA on sexual quality of life. AIM: To validate a new psychometric tool, the Gynogram, able to investigate coital pain and to quantify its impact on sexual well-being in menopause. METHODS: 214 sexually active postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study during clinical consultations in gynecological outpatient clinics in Italy. After gynecological examination and evaluation of the presence of VVA, the study sample was divided in a clinical group (103 women with certified diagnosis of VVA) and in a control group (111 women without certified diagnosis of VVA) according to the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) cut-off. Factor, Reliability and Receiving Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis were performed in order to validate our newly created Gynogram. OUTCOMES: A structured questionnaire, named Gynogram, to assess coital pain and its impact, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: The factor analysis performed on the original form (80 items) reduced the Gynogram to 24 items. Reliability analysis conducted with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients showed high values in all the components (ranging from .813 to .972), both in the long and in the short form. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the Gynogram, with a cut-off ≤93, is able to recognize a clinically significant coital pain. With respect to the FSFI, statistically significant differences were found for all the domains. In addition, statistically significant differences were found for all the twelve factors of the Gynogram, showing that VVA profoundly affects the sexual quality of life of women in post-menopause. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The utility of this tool consists in the possibility to improve prognosis, compliance/adherence and treatment outcomes. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The Gynogram is able to evaluate and to quantify the impact of coital pain associated with VVA. Moreover, it can also recognize the areas of biopsychosocial functioning being more affected by this clinical condition. The main limit of the study is the impossibility to evaluate both mental health and partner's general and sexual health. CONCLUSIONS: The Gynogram is a new and validated psychometric tool able to detect the impact of symptomatic VVA on sexual quality of life among post-menopausal women, with a specific focus on the different areas of sexual functioning. Nappi RE, Graziottin A, Mollaioli A, et al. The Gynogram: A Multicentric Validation of a New Psychometric Tool to Assess Coital Pain Associated With VVA and Its Impact on Sexual Quality of Life in Menopausal Women. J Sex Med 2021;18:955-965.

Cross-sectional study of early postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction and related bother in primiparous women 6-10 weeks postpartum.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To study the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction and related bother in primiparous women 6-10 weeks postpartum, comparing vaginal and cesarean delivery. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 721 mothers with singleton births in Reykjavik, Iceland, 2015 to 2017, using an electronic questionnaire. Information on urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and sexual dysfunction with related bother (trouble, nuisance, worry, annoyance) was collected. Main outcome measures were prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction and related bother. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of urinary and anal incontinence was 48% and 60%, respectively. Bother regarding urinary symptoms was experienced by 27% and for anal symptoms by 56%. Pelvic organ prolapse was noted by 29%, with less than half finding this bothersome. Fifty-five percent were sexually active, of whom 66% reported coital pain. Of all the women, 48% considered sexual issues bothersome. Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse were more prevalent in women who delivered vaginally compared to cesarean section, but no differences were observed for anal incontinence and coital pain. Compared to women with BMI < 25, obesity was a predictor for urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.20-3.14). Birthweight > 50th percentile was predictive for urgency incontinence after vaginal delivery (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.05-2.21). Episiotomy predicted more anal incontinence (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.30-3.67). No associations between maternal and delivery characteristics were found for pelvic floor dysfunction after cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Bothersome pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms are prevalent among first-time mothers in the immediate postpartum period.

Lifestyles and sexuality in men and women: the gender perspective in sexual medicine.

Sexual health is strictly related with general health in both genders. In presence of a sexual dysfunction, the expert in sexual medicine aims to discover the specific weight of the physical and psychological factors can cause or con-cause the sexual problem. At the same time, a sexual dysfunction can represent a marker of the future development of a Non-communicable diseases (NCDss) as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases.In the evaluation phase, the sexual health specialist must focus on these aspects, focusing especially on the risk and protective factors that could impact on both male and female sexuality.This article presents a review of researches concerning healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their contribute in the development of sexual quality of life in a gender-dependent manner.Among the unhealthy lifestyle, obesity contributes mostly to the development of sexual dysfunctions, due to its negative impact on cardiovascular and metabolic function. Tobacco smoking, alcohol - substance abuse and chronic stress lead to the development of sexual dysfunction in a med-long term.In order to guarantee a satisfying sexual quality of life, sexual health specialists have the responsibility to guide the patient through the adoption of healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding drugs, smoke and excessive alcohol, practicing a regular physical activity, following a balanced diet and use stress-management strategies, even before proposing both pharmaco- and/or psychotherapies.

The clinical anatomy of dyspareunia: A review.

Dyspareunia can be described as continuous unremitting or intermittent pain associated with intercourse. It can be classified based on the location of the pain - entry or deep dyspareunia, or based on when the pain was first experienced - primary or secondary dyspareunia. There are different causes of dyspareunia and some of the most important causes include the following: vulvodynia, postpartum dyspareunia, endometriosis, inadequate vaginal lubrication or arousal, and other anogenital causes such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures. In this review, our objective is to apply the anatomical knowledge of dyspareunia to patient care, increase awareness among clinicians about the diverse etiology of dyspareunia and ensure that the whole patient, not just the pain of dyspareunia is being treated as the causes of dyspareunia can be due to various pathologies. Clin. Anat., 31:1013-1017, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.