Evidence Hub

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review

Elisheva R. Danan, Susan J. Diem, Catherine Sowerby, Kristen E. Ullman, Kristine Ensrud, Adrienne Landsteiner, N. Greer, Nicholas L. Zerzan et al.

2024

13 citations

Abstract

Objectives. To conduct a systematic review of evidence regarding genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) screening, treatment, and surveillance. Data sources. Ovid/Medline®, Embase®, and EBSCOhost/CINAHL® from database inception through December 11, 2023. Review methods. We employed methods consistent with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence-based Practice Center Program Methods Guidance to identify studies and synthesize findings for Key Questions related to screening for GSM, effectiveness and harms of U.S.-available interventions for GSM, appropriate followup intervals for patients using GSM treatments, and endometrial surveillance for patients using hormonal GSM treatments. For vaginal estrogen and vaginal or systemic non-estrogen hormonal interventions, energy-based interventions, and vaginal moisturizers, we first assessed study quality and then, for moderate or high-quality studies, reviewed outcomes related to GSM symptoms, treatment satisfaction, and adverse effects. For low-quality studies, we described limited study characteristics only. For studies of other non-hormonal interventions, we created an evidence map describing study characteristics without assessing study quality. Results. After assessing 107 publications for risk of bias (RoB), we extracted and synthesized effectiveness and/or harms outcomes from 68 publications describing trials or prospective, controlled observational studies that were rated low, some concerns, or moderate RoB…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free