Vulvovaginal Atrophy, Genital Menopause Syndrome: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic target

  • More or less complete and long-term elimination of discomfort in the external genital area, vagina and bladder.

Therapy recommendations

The therapeutic measures are presented in detail in the following chapters.

  • Bladder/Urethra (Urethra):
    • Dysuria (difficult (painful) urination).
    • Urinary incontinence (bladder weakness)
    • Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
  • Vulva/Vagina:
    • Dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse).
    • Vaginitis colpitis (vaginitis): pharmacotherapy: atrophic colpitis (vaginal dryness).

Other notes

  • A wide range of medicinal products (lubricants, moisturizers, emollients) are available for vaginal dryness as the most common symptom of dyspareunia and atrophic colpitis. They are recommended by the North American Menopause Society as first-line therapy prior to hormone therapy and are also particularly commonly used by patients primarily prior to hormone therapy recommended as second-line therapy. Medical device therapy is only effective for a short time (2-3 days maximum, usually shorter). Hormone therapy must be carried out permanently, because it loses effectiveness just a few weeks after discontinuation.
  • Alternatively, CO2 laser therapy is offered today as an innovative, long-lasting and long-acting therapy option.
  • Therapy with medical devices and CO2 laser therapy see below: “Further therapy: Conventional non-operative therapy methods”).