title: Vaginal Health: Insights, Views & Attitudes (VIVA) - results from an international survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge of vaginal atrophy among women using the Vaginal Health: Insights, Views & Attitudes (VIVA) survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured online questionnaire was used to obtain information from 3520 postmenopausal women aged 55-65 years living in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 45% of women reported experiencing vaginal symptoms. Only 4% of women attributed these symptoms to vaginal atrophy, and 63% failed to recognize vaginal atrophy as a chronic condition. Overall, 44% of respondents did not have a gynecologist, but this percentage varied between countries. Most women (75%) felt that vaginal atrophy had a negative impact on life, but this perception also showed country-specific differences. Most Finnish respondents (76%) were satisfied with the amount of information available about vaginal atrophy, compared with just 37-42% of women from other countries. Most women used over-the-counter products for vaginal atrophy symptoms, but specific means of treating the underlying cause were less well known. Almost half (46%) of all respondents lacked knowledge about local estrogen therapy, with women in Great Britain, the United States and Canada being most likely to lack knowledge of such treatment. Overall, 30% of women would consider taking local estrogen therapy, with vaginal tablets being the preferred option in all countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal women have a low understanding of vaginal atrophy. Medical practitioners should proactively raise this topic, help patients to understand that vaginal atrophy is a chronic condition, and discuss treatment options. Country-specific approaches may be required.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS 'S Matteo Foundation', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokot-Kierepa
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies