Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)
Background Thyroid autoimmune disorders (ADs) are common in midlife women and can impact various aspects of health, including sexual function. The effect of thyroid autoimmunity on the clinical manifestations of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) remains unclear.Objective To explore the relationship between...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Gynecological Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2458705 |
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| author | Laura Cucinella Federica Barbagallo Mariacristina Erroi Chiara Procaccianti Ellis Martini Lara Tiranini Giorgia E. Parrotta Greta Monne Giulia M. Colombo Aldo Calogero Rossella E. Nappi |
| author_facet | Laura Cucinella Federica Barbagallo Mariacristina Erroi Chiara Procaccianti Ellis Martini Lara Tiranini Giorgia E. Parrotta Greta Monne Giulia M. Colombo Aldo Calogero Rossella E. Nappi |
| author_sort | Laura Cucinella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Thyroid autoimmune disorders (ADs) are common in midlife women and can impact various aspects of health, including sexual function. The effect of thyroid autoimmunity on the clinical manifestations of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) remains unclear.Objective To explore the relationship between thyroid ADs and VVA signs and symptoms in a sample of postmenopausal women.Methods Cross-sectional study including postmenopausal women not using systemic hormone therapy. VVA signs were assessed using the vaginal health index (VHI) and vulvar health index (VuHI); VVA symptoms were rated on a four-point severity scale.Results Among 112 women enrolled, 28 had thyroid ADs. A significantly higher percentage of women with thyroid ADs showed vaginal atrophy (75 vs. 45.2%, p < .05). A greater proportion of women with thyroid ADs exhibited vulvar atrophy or both vaginal and vulvar atrophy, though these differences were not statistically significant. Women with thyroid ADs reported significantly higher scores for dryness, burning/itching, irritation/inflammation, and dyspareunia compared to those without it. A higher percentage of women with thyroid ADs experienced severe dyspareunia (45 vs. 20.6%, p < .05), severe burning/itching (33.3 vs. 9.1%, p < .05), and severe stress urinary incontinence (17.9 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.05).Conclusions This study suggests that thyroid ADs may contribute to genital aging, with an apparent greater involvement in vaginal signs of atrophy. Women with thyroid ADs reported more severe VVA symptoms, but specific symptomatological clusters should be investigated in larger samples. Our data support the need to explore further the role of thyroid disorders in VVA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-972f6afee59e4f2e8bc255a2d92c99a6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0951-3590 1473-0766 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gynecological Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-972f6afee59e4f2e8bc255a2d92c99a62025-02-06T13:25:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGynecological Endocrinology0951-35901473-07662025-12-0141110.1080/09513590.2025.2458705Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)Laura Cucinella0Federica Barbagallo1Mariacristina Erroi2Chiara Procaccianti3Ellis Martini4Lara Tiranini5Giorgia E. Parrotta6Greta Monne7Giulia M. Colombo8Aldo Calogero9Rossella E. Nappi10Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, ItalyDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyResearch Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, ItalyDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyBackground Thyroid autoimmune disorders (ADs) are common in midlife women and can impact various aspects of health, including sexual function. The effect of thyroid autoimmunity on the clinical manifestations of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) remains unclear.Objective To explore the relationship between thyroid ADs and VVA signs and symptoms in a sample of postmenopausal women.Methods Cross-sectional study including postmenopausal women not using systemic hormone therapy. VVA signs were assessed using the vaginal health index (VHI) and vulvar health index (VuHI); VVA symptoms were rated on a four-point severity scale.Results Among 112 women enrolled, 28 had thyroid ADs. A significantly higher percentage of women with thyroid ADs showed vaginal atrophy (75 vs. 45.2%, p < .05). A greater proportion of women with thyroid ADs exhibited vulvar atrophy or both vaginal and vulvar atrophy, though these differences were not statistically significant. Women with thyroid ADs reported significantly higher scores for dryness, burning/itching, irritation/inflammation, and dyspareunia compared to those without it. A higher percentage of women with thyroid ADs experienced severe dyspareunia (45 vs. 20.6%, p < .05), severe burning/itching (33.3 vs. 9.1%, p < .05), and severe stress urinary incontinence (17.9 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.05).Conclusions This study suggests that thyroid ADs may contribute to genital aging, with an apparent greater involvement in vaginal signs of atrophy. Women with thyroid ADs reported more severe VVA symptoms, but specific symptomatological clusters should be investigated in larger samples. Our data support the need to explore further the role of thyroid disorders in VVA.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2458705Autoimmune thyroiditisgenitourinary syndrome of menopausevulvovaginal atrophymenopausethyroid disorders |
| spellingShingle | Laura Cucinella Federica Barbagallo Mariacristina Erroi Chiara Procaccianti Ellis Martini Lara Tiranini Giorgia E. Parrotta Greta Monne Giulia M. Colombo Aldo Calogero Rossella E. Nappi Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) Gynecological Endocrinology Autoimmune thyroiditis genitourinary syndrome of menopause vulvovaginal atrophy menopause thyroid disorders |
| title | Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) |
| title_full | Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) |
| title_fullStr | Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) |
| title_short | Signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in clinical practice – the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) |
| title_sort | signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy vva in clinical practice the possible involvement of thyroid autoimmunity in genitourinary syndrome of menopause gsm |
| topic | Autoimmune thyroiditis genitourinary syndrome of menopause vulvovaginal atrophy menopause thyroid disorders |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2458705 |
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