Research Centre for Reproductive Medicine, University of Pavia, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Maturitas. 2013 Aug;75(4):373-9. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.05.003. Epub 2013 May 31.
CLOSER investigated how postmenopausal vaginal atrophy ('vaginal discomfort') affects relationships between women and their partners.
CLOSER involved postmenopausal women (55-65 years) with vaginal discomfort, and male partners of women with the condition.
Structured questionnaire collecting information on impact of vaginal discomfort and local oestrogen treatment on intimacy and relationships, and symptoms and impact of menopause.
1600 women and 1600 men from Northern Europe and 1000 women and 1000 men from Southern Europe were included. Worry that vaginal discomfort would never go away was expressed by 28% and 38% of women in Northern and Southern Europe, respectively (p<0.05), while 21% and 27% worried that vaginal discomfort would ruin their future sex life (p<0.05). Half of women who avoided intimacy worried about painful sex. Among men, 86% wanted their partner to talk about symptoms; two-thirds felt comfortable with this. In Northern and Southern Europe, 15% and 11% of men, respectively, feared that discussing vaginal discomfort would ruin intimacy, while 29% and 19% believed that vaginal discomfort was a big problem in their sex life. Men with partners who avoided intimacy recognised that worry about painful sex was the main reason. Vaginal discomfort impaired self-esteem and emotional wellbeing among women, while local oestrogen treatment improved relationships, particularly in Southern Europe.
Vaginal discomfort impairs quality of life in postmenopausal women and their partners. Southern European women were generally more worried about long-term effects on their relationship, and were more likely to report benefits after treatment.
CLOSER 研究了绝经后阴道萎缩（“阴道不适”）如何影响女性及其伴侣之间的关系。
CLOSER 涉及绝经后有阴道不适的女性（55-65 岁）及其伴侣。
采用结构化问卷收集阴道不适和局部雌激素治疗对亲密关系和性生活、绝经期症状和影响的信息。
共纳入北欧 1600 名女性和 1600 名男性，南欧 1000 名女性和 1000 名男性。分别有 28%和 38%的北欧和南欧女性担心阴道不适永远不会消失（p<0.05），而分别有 21%和 27%的女性担心阴道不适会破坏她们未来的性生活（p<0.05）。有一半避免亲密关系的女性担心性生活疼痛。在男性中，86%的人希望伴侣谈论症状；三分之二的人对此感到舒适。在北欧和南欧，分别有 15%和 11%的男性担心讨论阴道不适会破坏亲密关系，而分别有 29%和 19%的男性认为阴道不适是性生活中的一个大问题。避免亲密关系的男性伴侣认识到，对性生活疼痛的担忧是主要原因。阴道不适会损害女性的自尊心和情绪健康，而局部雌激素治疗改善了关系，特别是在南欧。
阴道不适会影响绝经后女性及其伴侣的生活质量。南欧女性通常更担心长期对其关系的影响，并且更有可能在治疗后报告获益。
