Urogenital atrophy: diagnosis, sequelae, and management.

It is estimated that 17% of our population will be over the age of 65 by the year 2030. As the body ages, many physiologic processes begin to decline. Health-care providers will need to be well-educated in the many sequelae of aging. Practitioners will especially need to focus on the health-care needs of women, since women have a longer life expectancy than men. Estrogen deprivation occurs in all women. Some will not have any symptoms, while others may experience all of its debilitating side effects: hot flashes, osteoporosis, insomnia, irritability, depression, and urogenital atrophy. Even though the latter is not life-threatening, it can alter a woman's quality of life considerably. Because it is easily treatable with minimal risk, all practitioners should become familiar with its presentation and management. This article discusses the many sequelae of urogenital atrophy: vulvovaginal irritation, urinary tract irritative symptoms and infection, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. Diagnosis and current management strategies are also discussed in detail.