EpiCast Report: Postmenopausal Vaginal Atrophy - Epidemiology Forecast to 2022

LONDON - March 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Cultural and social modesty is leaving women uncomfortable discussing Postmenopausal Vaginal Atrophy (PVA) – a condition which goes underdiagnosed worldwide, states a new report by research and consulting firm GlobalData.

The new report* found that up to 50% of postmenopausal women experience symptoms of vaginal atrophy, but only a quarter of these individuals seek medical treatment, and cultural and social attitudes toward sexuality and aging play a huge role in this.

The urogenital tract, including the vagina, bladder and pelvic floor muscles, contains estrogen receptors, and so estrogen depletion causes deterioration of tissues and discomfort in this area. PVA causes vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings, and urogenital symptoms, such as vaginal discomfort, pain during urination, and pain during sexual intercourse. While vasomotor symptoms typically resolve over time, urogenital symptoms can remain a persistent problem.

Women may neglect to report PVA symptoms due to the assumption that they are an inevitable consequence of the aging process, or due to embarrassment stemming from cultural norms, as symptoms are closely associated with sexual function. Geographical patterns have been found in the prevalence of PVA, with women in the US more likely to discuss PVA symptoms with their doctor than European women, who are in turn far more likely to have open conversations about sexuality and menopause with their doctor than Japanese women. These differing tendencies in discussing personal matters with healthcare professionals dictate the rates of PVA diagnosis and treatment across countries.

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However, today women are living longer than ever, spending around a third of their life in the postmenopausal state, and attitudes towards the menopause transition are changing as a result. Certain regions are seeing social stigmas lessening as women become more vocal about their experiences, causing a rise in disease awareness, and consequent increases in the numbers of women seeking treatment.

Cancer survivors are also at risk of developing PVA, as many surgical, endocrine, and chemotherapeutic cancer treatments can cause or exacerbate vaginal atrophy.

Maintaining sexual activity is the only natural remedy that exists for PVA, but women suffering severe symptoms, or who have lost their partner, may turn to topical ointments and hormone replacement therapy as treatment options.

During 2012, there were 31.56 million prevalent cases of PVA across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan. GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that by 2022 there will be 36.14 million prevalent cases, showing an annual growth rate of 1.45%, as the global population continues to age.

This report provides an overview of the risk factors and global trends of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy

in the seven major markets (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan). It includes a 10- year epidemiology forecast of PVA prevalent cases segmented by age (in five-year increments beginning at 50 years and ending at 79 years) and severity (mild, moderate, and severe) in the 7MM.

This report was built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.

GlobalData is a leading global business intelligence provider offering advanced analytics to help clients make better, more informed decisions every day. Our research and analysis is based on the expert knowledge of over 700 qualified business analysts and 25,000 interviews conducted with industry insiders every year, enabling us to offer the most relevant, reliable and actionable strategic business intelligence available for a wide range of industries.

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