The CLOSER survey: impact of postmenopausal vaginal discomfort on women and male partners in the UK.

ObjectiveTo understand the physical and emotional impact of postmenopausal vaginal discomfort on relationships between women and their male partners.Study designIn a quantitative, Internet-based survey, 8200 individuals from the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Italy, US and Canada (postmenopausal, married/cohabiting women, aged 55–65 years, who had experienced vaginal discomfort, and male partners of such women) completed a structured questionnaire.Main outcome measuresResults for respondents from the UK (500 men, 500 women), expressed as percentages of women/men describing particular answers, are reported.ResultsAvoiding physical intimacy because of vaginal discomfort was reported by 69% of women and 76% of male partners, mainly due to concern about sex being painful (women 63%; men 61%); 18% of women considered vaginal discomfort had created emotional distance between them and their partners. Local estrogen treatment was used by 21% of women, among whom 58% subsequently reported less painf...