Objective: The genitourinary syndrome of the menopause (GSM) is a group of vulvovaginal symptoms commonly affecting menopausal women. Various questionnaires tried to quantify the impact of GSM on women, but the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ) has been a validated one. Understanding the symptomatology allows optimal treatment of patients. We aimed to assess the impact of GSM in the lives of patients attending gynaecology clinics including general gynaecology, menopause and urogynaecology in our hospital.

Methods: A prospective service evaluation project covering a three-month period, assessing the prevalence of GSM among the referral population in outpatient gynaecology. VSQ questionnaires were offered to women prior to attending the clinics irrespective of the reason of attendance. 407 patients returned a completed questionnaire: 258 were menopausal and 149 premenopausal.

Discussion: GSM is common irrespective of age or hormonal treatments. Vulvar dryness (32%) and abnormal discharge (30%) being the most common symptoms. A quarter of our patients complained of vulvar itching (26%) and irritation (23%) and were frustrated (26%) of their symptoms and finding it hard to show affection (23%). Moreover, 22% suffered of dyspareunia affecting their sexual relationships, while 27% experienced dryness during intercourse. GSM also had a strong impact on their social lives (21%), causing feeling of embarrassment (23%) and affecting the desire to interact with others (18%).

Conclusion: GSM is common in women regardless their reproductive state with strong impact on their social and personal lives, whereas local vagina Oestrogen treatment on its own is not always a sufficient mode of treatment.