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Background: Vulvovaginal symptoms, which include dryness, irritation, and pain with intercourse, are common among postmenopausal women and are associated with impaired sexual functioning and quality of life. Previous assessment of treatment strategies for these symptoms has been limited by a lack of sensitive patient-centered outcome measures that assess symptom impact on functional and quality-of-life domains., Objective: We aimed to (1) examine change in the impact of postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms on multiple aspects of well-being and functioning in relation to vaginal estradiol and moisturizer treatment and (2) guide meaningful interpretation of scores on a structured-item questionnaire measure of condition-specific impact., Study Design: Data were drawn from postmenopausal women who were enrolled in the Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health Vaginal Health Trial (a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of treatment for vulvovaginal symptoms) who were assigned to vaginal 10-μg estradiol tablet plus placebo gel (n=98), vaginal moisturizer plus placebo tablet (n=97), or dual placebo (n=94). At baseline and 12-week follow up, participants completed the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging questionnaire to assess the impact of vaginal symptoms on 4 domains (activities of daily living, emotional well-being, sexual functioning, and body image), each on a 0-4 point scale. Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging sensitivity to change was assessed by the examination of the associations between change in Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging domain scores and vulvovaginal symptom severity from baseline to 12 weeks with analysis of covariance. Within-woman and between-group minimal clinically important improvement was assessed with the use of an anchor-based approach that relates change in Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging domain scores with self-reported benefit from treatment., Results: Participants in all treatment arms (n=289) demonstrated reduced impact of vulvovaginal symptoms on all domains of well-being and functioning as assessed by Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging at 12-week follow up, with no significant differences in improvement between women who were assigned to either estradiol tablet or vaginal moisturizer compared with placebo. For all Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging domains, mean impact scores were reduced when participants reported symptom improvement (-0.3 to -0.8 point change in Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging scores for <2-point symptom severity change vs -0.4 to -1.6 point change in Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging scores for 2+ point symptom severity change; all P<.001). Minimal clinically important change in Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging domain scale scores, which are anchored to self-reported meaningful benefit from treatment at 12 weeks, ranged from -0.4 to -1.3 (within-woman) and -0.2 to -0.7 (between-group). Observed change and minimal clinically important difference were largest for the sexual functioning domain., Conclusion: The impact of vulvovaginal symptoms on day-to-day activities, sexual function, emotional well-being, and body image may be improved with low-dose vaginal estradiol, moisturizer, or topical placebo. The Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging questionnaire demonstrates sensitivity to change with treatment of vulvovaginal symptoms, particularly Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging scales that focus on symptom impact on sexual functioning and body image. Minimal clinically important improvement in the impact of vulvovaginal symptoms as measured by the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging can be defined with the use of these measures., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Lichen planus is a rare dermatological disorder that is often associated with painful and disfiguring vulvovaginal effects. At the University of Michigan Center for Vulvar Diseases, we see many women with vulvovaginal lichen planus each year, with marked scarring and vulvovaginal agglutination that precludes vaginal intercourse and causes difficulty with urination. Through our experience, we developed a protocol for the operative management and postoperative care for severe vulvovaginal agglutination. Our objective is to share this protocol with a wider audience so that providers who see patients with these devastating effects of lichen planus can benefit from our experience to better serve this patient population. The figure represents a case of erosive lichen planus with early vaginal agglutination. The video reviews the pathophysiology and presentation of lichen planus. We then present a case of scarring and agglutination in a young woman, including our surgical management and postoperative care recommendations., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vaginal cuff dehiscence and evisceration are rare but serious complications of pelvic surgery, specifically hysterectomy. The data on risks of vaginal cuff dehiscence are variable, and there is no consensus on how to manage this complication. In our review, we present a summary of the risk factors, with symptoms, precipitating events, and treatment options for patients with vaginal cuff dehiscence after pelvic surgery. In addition, we provide a review of the current literature on this important surgical outcome and suggestions for future research on the incidence and prevention of vaginal cuff dehiscence., (Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of the vaginal paravaginal repair using porcine dermal graft reinforcement for the correction of advanced anterior vaginal prolapse., Study Design: One hundred eleven women underwent reinforced vaginal paravaginal repair between September 2001 and January 2004 and met our inclusion criteria. Postoperatively patients were evaluated at 6 weeks, 6 months, and yearly thereafter. Objective cure was defined as point Ba -1 or less., Results: Eighty-nine of the 111 (80%) patients were available for follow-up. Mean age of patients was 59.5 +/- 11.6 years (range 26 to 82), mean body mass index was 29 +/- 5.5 (range 20 to 44), and median parity was 3 (range 0 to 15). Mean follow-up was 24 +/- 10.1 months (range 6 to 44) with minimum follow-up required for cure of 12 months. Overall cure rate was 78% (68 of 89). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank test., Conclusion: The reinforced vaginal paravaginal repair procedure is safe and effective for correction of advanced anterior vaginal prolapse.

We describe five patients with vaginal stenosis that was due to chronic graft-versus-host reaction after bone marrow transplantation. All patients underwent surgical procedures followed by local corticosteroids administration. Vaginal function was restored in all cases. This satisfactory result persists in the long term.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the usefulness of perineoplasty for introital stenosis related to vulvar lichen sclerosus., Study Design: The records of 64 patients who underwent perineoplasty for this indication were reviewed retrospectively. The median age of patients was 49 years, and the median duration of lichen sclerosus was 60 months. Ninety percent of patients complained of dyspareunia. Patient satisfaction with the outcome was assessed by means of a questionnaire. Persistence of dyspareunia and impaired quality of sexual intercourse were considered as treatment failure. Risk factors of failure that were evaluated included duration of lichen sclerosus, age, previous topical steroid therapy, previous perineotomy, time since surgery, and histologic stage. Statistical analysis was performed by use of Fisher exact test., Results: Of the 64 patients, 12 were lost to follow-up and 2 patients did not respond to the questionnaire. Perineoplasty improved dyspareunia in 45 of the 50 patients (90%) and quality of sexual intercourse in 43 of 50 patients (86%). None of the risk factors evaluated were associated with failure of perineoplasty., Conclusion: Perineoplasty provides good functional results for women with introital stenosis related to vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of adverse sexual, personal hygiene, and self-treatment behavior among women with chronic benign vulvar and vaginal disorders., Study Design: This study was carried out by means of a scientific clinical audit producing actuarial data by way of a semistructured questionnaire. Subjects consisted of a sample of 530 cases treated at a specialist clinic for vulvar diseases. In addition to clinical and laboratory investigations, the patients were interviewed by the clinic's psychologist, who used a structured interview schedule developed specifically for the study. Descriptive analysis and analysis of variance were used to investigate data., Results: Most patients remained sexually active in spite of arousal failure and discomfort and engaged in unlubricated and often painful sexual intercourse. Most women engaged in potentially harmful genital hygiene and self-treatment behavior. Adverse self-treatment practices but not adverse genital hygiene practices were associated with greater symptom duration., Conclusions: Adverse practices should be addressed during the management of cases of chronic vulvar disease.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in a cohort of women with either Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome., Study Design: Female patients with either Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were identified through a medical records search at two urban hospitals. Each patient's medical record was reviewed, and the history of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence was obtained through telephone interview., Results: Twelve women with Marfan syndrome were identified. Among these women 5 (42%) reported a history of urinary incontinence and 4 (33%) reported a history of pelvic organ prolapse. Eight women with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were identified. Among these women 4 (50%) reported a history of urinary incontinence and 6 (75%) reported a history of pelvic organ prolapse., Conclusions: Women with Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have high rates of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. This finding supports the hypothesized etiologic role of connective tissue disorders as a factor in the pathogenesis of these conditions.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to assess the depth of the pouch of Douglas among nulliparous women and to compare it with those among parous women and patients with genital prolapse., Study Design: The depth of the pouch of Douglas was measured in 22 nulliparous women and 28 parous women without genital prolapse and in 18 patients with prolapse of the posterior vaginal wall., Results: The pouch of Douglas extended from 11% to 89% of the total vaginal length among nulliparous and parous women, without significant difference between these groups (mean, 49% and 45%, respectively). It was significantly deeper in patients with prolapse, ranging from 25% to 96% (mean, 72%)., Conclusion: There is an extensive variation in the depth of the pouch of Douglas. A deep pouch of Douglas is frequently present in young nulliparous women and may increase the risk for development of a posterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe conservative surgical management of polyethylene terephthalate (Mersilene, Ethicon, Inc, Somerville, NJ) mesh suburethral sling erosion as an alternative to sling removal., Study Design: Seven women who had undergone suburethral sling procedures with Mersilene mesh were found to have varying degrees of mesh visible in the vagina at 4 to 12 weeks after the operation. Three women with erosions <5 mm were treated in the office and 4 women who had 6 to 30 mm erosions underwent inpatient surgical revision, which consisted of trimming of mesh when needed, excision of granulation tissue, and re-covering of the erosion in 2 layers., Results: All 7 patients have been followed up for 6 to 37 months. Only 1 woman who underwent inpatient surgical revision had a recurrence (4 mm); this was treated successfully in the office., Conclusion: Vaginal erosions in suburethral sling procedures with Mersilene mesh can be managed initially with our conservative surgical technique.

Objective: This report describes a technique for total colpocleisis performed on women with posthysterectomy vaginal eversion and presents the outcome of this surgery., Study Design: Thirty-three women, aged 51 to 94 years (78.1 +/- 8.8, average +/- SD) with vaginal eversion were treated with total colpocleisis. Twenty-four women had previously undergone a total of 40 operations for prolapse, and many had a massive prolapse with scarring and ulceration. Five women had stress incontinence, and an additional 12 had poor urethral support without stress incontinence. In association with colpocleisis, 14 had suburethral plication of the endopelvic fascia; two, needle suspensions; and one, a pubovaginal sling. Three had a perineorrhaphy., Results: Operations lasted from 30 to 205 minutes (101 +/- 33.4, average +/- SD), and the estimated blood loss ranged from 20 to 750 ml (206 +/- 171, average +/- SD). No operative complications occurred. Postoperatively, congestive heart failure developed in two women and one had pneumonia; all illnesses resolved with appropriate therapy. There were no complications at the operative site. Average follow-up was 35 (+/-48) months. All women were initially cured of the vaginal eversion. Recurrent eversion developed in one woman 1 year after surgery and was successfully treated with repeat colpocleisis. Of five women with preoperative stress incontinence, four were cured and one lost to follow-up. No new stress incontinence occurred., Conclusion: Total colpocleisis is an effective operation for the treatment of vaginal eversion in selected situations. When defective urethral support is corrected at the time of the operation, postoperative incontinence is not usually a problem.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of fixation of the vaginal apex to the coccygeus fascia with fixation to the sacrospinous ligament during surgical repair of vaginal vault eversion with enterocele., Study Design: The records of 121 patients with posthysterectomy vaginal vault eversion with enterocele treated by the author between 1983 and 1994 were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative symptoms and findings on pelvic examination and postoperative recovery were compared in patients undergoing sacrospinous ligament suspension and coccygeus fascial suspension. Statistical analysis was performed with chi 2 analysis and Kaplan-Meier life tables., Results: Eighty-one patients underwent fixation to the coccygeus fascia and 30 underwent sacrospinous ligament suspension. The two groups are similar for clinical history, symptoms, and findings on pelvic examination. Ten patients underwent an abdominal sacral colpopexy for specific indications and are not comparable. The incidence of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay were similar for the two vaginal procedures. Patients with coccygeus fascial suspension have a projected 96% cure rate at 2 years compared with an 80% cure rate for patients with a sacrospinous ligament suspension., Conclusion: Bilateral vaginal vault suspension to the coccygeus fascia is a safe, simple, and effective technique in the management of vaginal vault eversion with enterocele.

Three premenopausal women had transvaginal evisceration after hysterectomy; the original approach was abdominal in two and vaginal in one. Postoperative cuff infection may contribute to evisceration, and symptoms vary with the length of time after evisceration. Prompt recognition and surgical repair resulted in a good outcome for the three women.

Complications associated with the use of the carbon dioxide laser in 624 gynecologic patients are presented. Bleeding and pain were the most common side effects of this new modality. Although bleeding occurred in 63 patients, it was considered minor, i.e., requiring no treatment in 56 women. Pain was rather mild and could be dealt with easily by allowing heat buildup to dissipate. Only one laser accident was observed in the entire series. Interestingly, scar formation, e.g., cervical stenosis, was essentially nonexistent. Similarly, no infections were reported. The carbon dioxide laser compares favorably to conventional treatment methods insofar as complications are concerned; however, if future complications are to be avoided, careful training in CO2 laser technology must precede clinical use of the instrument.

Puerperal hematomas may not respond to conventional therapy, including vaginal packing, drainage, and hypogastric artery ligation. Two cases are presented in which selective angiographic arterial embolization was used to manage this potentially lethal complication.