Menopause-Related Urological Symptoms: a Multidisciplinary Framework for Diagnosis and Treatment in Gynecology and Urology

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a very crippling stage of life that severely affects the urological health of most women and comes with numerous symptoms which hinder the quality of life. This study intends to create a multidimensional framework in the diagnosis and management of urological symptoms related to menopause.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 84 menopausal symptoms women aged between 30 and 60 who presented with urological symptoms. Demographic data of the patients, symptom interrogatives, and reports of treatment outcomes for the subsequent year were analyzed. All patients were diagnosed with urodynamic studies, and their quality of life was assessed through validated questionnaires.

Results: Urinary incontinence (77.38%) and hot flushes (64.29%) reported the highest prevalence of urological symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy showed a remarkable difference in symptomology among 65.48% of the subjects. Quality of life assessment showed significant improvement on post-treatment mean of physical health (mean score 70) and mean mental health post-treatment (mean score 75), whereas the recurrence rate for symptoms remains at 25%.

Conclusion: Urological problems associated with menopause can be serious for many women; they often affect their quality of life. The number of Iraqi women reporting urinary incontinence and hot flushes. Also, somatic symptoms were found more frequently among perimenopausal women compared to a reference population.