Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Vagina01:26

Vagina

The vaginal canal is a tubular structure averaging about 10 cm in length that acts as the entryway to the female reproductive system and the passageway for menstrual flow and childbirth. The interior walls of the vagina exhibit concentric folds called rugae and are topped by an area known as the fornix, which connects with the protruding cervical portion of the uterus. This canal is comprised of an external fibrous layer, a muscular middle layer, and an inner lining with mucosal rugae, which...
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System01:24

Disorders of the Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system can be affected by several disorders, including Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), endometriosis, and various forms of cancer. PMS and PMDD are cyclical conditions that cause physical and emotional distress, with symptoms that include edema, mood swings, and food cravings. PMDD is a more severe form of PMS characterized by increased symptom severity that peaks during the luteal phase and tends to improve or resolve shortly after...
External Female Genitals01:15

External Female Genitals

The vulva encompasses the external structures of the female reproductive system. At the forefront is the monpubis, a cushion of fatty tissue atop the pubic bone. Once puberty sets in, this area typically grows hair. Extending from just behind the mons pubis are the labia majora (labia = 'lips'; majora = 'larger'), which are larger skin fs olds coated with hair. Nestled within are the labia minora (labia = 'lips'; minora = 'smaller'), which are thinner, more pigmented, and hairless. While the...
Genital Herpes01:23

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...
Trichomoniasis01:18

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Histologic correlates of background parenchymal uptake on molecular breast imaging.

Breast cancer research : BCR·2025
Same author

Molecular Breast Imaging and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis for Dense Breast Screening: The Density MATTERS Trial.

Radiology·2025
Same author

Emergency Department Implementation of a Multimodal Electronic Health Record-Integrated Clinical Intervention for High-Sensitivity Troponin Testing Increases Diagnostic Efficiency.

Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open·2025
Same author

A randomized trial to evaluate the impact of breast density notification on anxiety, breast cancer worry, and perceived risk among Latinas at a federally qualified health center : Breast density notification and anxiety, breast cancer worry, and perceived risk among Latinas.

BMC women's health·2025
Same author

Impact of an electronically-integrated clinical pathway on hospital initiation of medications for alcohol use disorder and subsequent hospital utilization.

Journal of hospital medicine·2025
Same author

Multicenter Development and Prospective Validation of eCARTv5: A Gradient-Boosted Machine-Learning Early Warning Score.

Critical care explorations·2025
Same journal

Thyroid Dysfunction and the Risk of Clinically Relevant Depression: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
Same journal

37-Year-Old Woman With Jaundice.

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
Same journal

34-Year-Old Woman With An Unidentified Overdose.

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
Same journal

Use of Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy in Evaluating Interstitial Lung Disease: Radiologic Predictors of Diagnostic Yield and Safety.

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
Same journal

Advancing Pulmonary Fibrosis Care: Integrating Genomic Insights Into Clinical Practice.

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
Same journal

RAAS Inhibition in the ICU: Stop, Continue, or Restart?

Mayo Clinic proceedings·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Modeling Healthy and Dysbiotic Vaginal Microenvironments in a Human Vagina-on-a-Chip
08:15

Modeling Healthy and Dysbiotic Vaginal Microenvironments in a Human Vagina-on-a-Chip

Published on: February 16, 2024

Vulvovaginal atrophy.

Maire B Mac Bride1, Deborah J Rhodes, Lynne T Shuster

  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. macbride.maire@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|January 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a common condition affecting postmenopausal women, causing vaginal dryness and discomfort. Local estrogen therapy is controversial for breast cancer patients experiencing VVA symptoms.

More Related Videos

Tissue Processing and Isolation of Primary Fibroblasts from the Human Vagina
08:30

Tissue Processing and Isolation of Primary Fibroblasts from the Human Vagina

Published on: November 22, 2024

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria
08:53

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria

Published on: May 25, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Modeling Healthy and Dysbiotic Vaginal Microenvironments in a Human Vagina-on-a-Chip
08:15

Modeling Healthy and Dysbiotic Vaginal Microenvironments in a Human Vagina-on-a-Chip

Published on: February 16, 2024

Tissue Processing and Isolation of Primary Fibroblasts from the Human Vagina
08:30

Tissue Processing and Isolation of Primary Fibroblasts from the Human Vagina

Published on: November 22, 2024

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria
08:53

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria

Published on: May 25, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Gynecology
  • Menopause Research
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a prevalent condition linked to reduced estrogen levels, impacting women's quality of life.
  • Symptoms include vaginal dryness, soreness, dyspareunia, and urinary issues, often increasing postmenopause.
  • Breast cancer treatments can significantly worsen VVA, presenting unique clinical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the clinical presentation and diagnosis of vulvovaginal atrophy.
  • To highlight the increased prevalence and management complexities of VVA in breast cancer survivors.
  • To address the ongoing controversy surrounding local estrogen therapy for VVA in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of VVA pathophysiology, clinical findings, and diagnostic criteria.
  • Analysis of VVA prevalence in postmenopausal women and breast cancer patients.
  • Discussion of treatment options and controversies, particularly local estrogen therapy.

Main Results:

  • VVA is characterized by pale, dry mucosa, loss of rugae, and elevated vaginal pH (≥4.6).
  • Approximately 50% of postmenopausal women experience VVA; 10-20% may have residual symptoms despite systemic estrogen.
  • Breast cancer treatments are associated with a higher incidence of VVA, complicating management.

Conclusions:

  • VVA is a common condition with distinct clinical and diagnostic features.
  • Breast cancer survivors face a heightened risk of VVA due to treatment modalities.
  • The use of local estrogen for VVA in breast cancer patients remains a subject of debate.