title: Vulvovaginal Issues in Mature Women.
abstract: Mature women often present with symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy and vulvar dermatoses, causing noncoital pain, dyspareunia, and sexual changes. Diagnosis of these conditions can be challenging, and long-term management is required to decrease morbidity and enhance quality of life. Vaginal estrogen therapies remain safe and effective for treating symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy. A vulvar biopsy is easy to perform and generally well tolerated when indicated for the diagnosis of lichen simplex chronicus, lichen sclerosus, and lichen planus. Therapy with moderate- to high-potency corticosteroids is effective for these frequently debilitating conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: marnach.mary@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Marnach
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Rochelle R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Torgerson
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D001284:Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology*; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies