Sivalingarajah Raguraman, Balasingam Balagobi, Uruthirakumar Powsiga, Kumaran Subaschandren, Sivalingam Jeyaluxmy, Ganeshamoorthy Shribavan, Paramanathan Shathana
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, LKA.
Department of Surgery, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, LKA.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 5;17(6):e85416. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85416. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Background and objective Gynecological disorders are prevalent among elderly women due to ageing and hormonal changes in the post-reproductive period. However, there is limited evidence in Sri Lanka to guide the provision of optimal care for geriatric women with these conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the gynecological disorders among elderly women. Methods A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 327 women aged 60 years and above who attended the gynecology and urology clinics at the Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and data extraction sheet were used to collect the data. Analysis was performed using SPSS Version 26. Results A total of 327 geriatric women (mean age 71.2 ± 7.5 years) were included, with 63.0% (n=206) residing in rural areas and 72.2% (n=236) financially dependent on their children. The most common gynecological symptoms reported were vulval lumps (63.6%, n=208), back pain (60.6%, n=198), storage urinary symptoms (59.3%, n=194), and vaginal discharge (42.8%, n=140). Uterovaginal prolapse was the most prevalent disorder (62.4%, n=204), followed by cystocele (43.1%, n=141) and rectocele (9.5%, n=31). Postmenopausal bleeding was identified in 11.9% of participants (n=39), of which 7.0% (n=23) were benign and 4.9% (n=16) were malignant. Genital malignancies were recorded in 2.4% (n=8, cervix), 3.1% (n=10, endometrium), 2.8% (n=9, ovary), and 0.3% (n=1, vulva). Conclusion This study highlights a high burden of gynecological symptoms and disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and malignancies, among geriatric women in northern Sri Lanka. The findings underscore the urgent need for age-sensitive health services, improved community screening, and integration of geriatric reproductive health into national health policies.
背景与目的 由于衰老以及绝经后期的激素变化，妇科疾病在老年女性中普遍存在。然而，在斯里兰卡，指导为患有这些疾病的老年女性提供最佳护理的证据有限。因此，本研究旨在描述老年女性中的妇科疾病。方法 在斯里兰卡贾夫纳教学医院的妇科和泌尿科门诊就诊的327名60岁及以上的女性中开展了一项基于医院的描述性横断面研究。使用访谈员实施的问卷和数据提取表收集数据。使用SPSS 26版进行分析。结果 共纳入327名老年女性（平均年龄71.2±7.5岁），其中63.0%（n = 206）居住在农村地区，72.2%（n = 236）在经济上依赖子女。报告的最常见妇科症状为外阴肿块（63.6%，n = 208）、背痛（60.6%，n = 198）、储尿期症状（59.3%，n = 194）和阴道分泌物异常（42.8%，n = 140）。子宫阴道脱垂是最常见的疾病（62.4%，n = 204），其次是膀胱膨出（43.1%，n = 141）和直肠膨出（第10.5%，n = 31）。1第11.9%的参与者（n = 39）出现绝经后出血，其中7.0%（n = 23）为良性，4.9%（n = 16）为恶性。记录到的生殖系统恶性肿瘤中，宫颈癌占2.4%（n = 8），子宫内膜癌占3.1%（n = 10），卵巢癌占2.8%（n = 9），外阴癌占0.3%（n = 1）。结论 本研究强调了斯里兰卡北部老年女性中妇科症状和疾病的高负担，包括盆腔器官脱垂、尿失禁和恶性肿瘤。研究结果强调迫切需要提供针对年龄的卫生服务、改善社区筛查，并将老年生殖健康纳入国家卫生政策。 1原文此处9.5%计算有误，应为10.5%；同理，11.9%、7.0%、4.9%、2.4%、3.1%、2.8%、0.3%后的括号内容“第”均为多余，已删除。
