Hysteroscopy in postmenopause: from diagnosis to the management of intrauterine pathologies

Climacteric. 2020 Aug;23(4):360-368. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1754387. Epub 2020 May 12.

Abstract

With the increase in life expectancy, women now live up to one-third of their life in menopause. Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common gynecologic complaint encountered by the clinician. Endometrial cancer is present in about 10% of patients with PMB. Nevertheless, many other conditions such as endometrial or cervical polyps, genital atrophy, or non-gynecologic conditions may also be present. Hysteroscopy has replaced blind diagnostic procedures and is now considered the gold-standard technique for the diagnosis and management of intrauterine pathology. Gynecologists in clinical practice should be familiar with the use of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of the menopausal patient presenting with gynecologic complaints. The aim of this article is to report the current evidence on the role of hysteroscopy in the evaluation and management of the postmenopausal patient with intrauterine pathology.

Keywords: Menopause; hysteroscopy; postmenopausal bleeding.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Gynecology / trends*
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy / methods
  • Hysteroscopy / trends*
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmenopause*
  • Uterine Diseases / diagnosis
  • Uterine Diseases / pathology
  • Uterine Diseases / surgery*