The role of microbiota in the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause

It is estimated that the 25-50% of women who are reaching menopause every year report symptoms related to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The symptoms are not due simply to lack of estrogen. One possible contributing cause of symptoms is the vaginal microbiota. The vaginal microbiota is a dynamic entity and plays a critical role in the pathogenic interplay of postmenopausal changes. Treatment of this syndrome depends on the severity and type of the symptoms and on the preferences and expectations of women. As there are many treatment options, therapy should be individualized. While new evidence on the role of Lactobacilli in premenopause is emerging, the role of Lactobacilli is still unclear in GSM and the impact of microbiota on vaginal health remains conflictual. However, some reports show promising data on the effect of probiotic therapy in menopause. In the literature there are few studies and small population samples on the role of an exclusive therapy with Lactobacilli and further data will be mandatory. Studies involving large numbers of patients and different intervention periods will be necessary to obtain evidence of the preventive and curative role of vaginal probiotics.

Spondylodiscitis After Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Description of a Rare Complication and Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: Spondylodiscitis can be a rare complication of gynecological surgery, typically of procedures involving the sacrum and the sacrospinous ligament. This report presents a case of spondylodiscitis arising after a laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with a mesh. We also review the literature finding 52 cases of spondylodiscitis following sacrocolpopexy and (or) rectopexy with or without a mesh.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive search from the electronic databases MEDLINE (Pubmed), Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar from 1990 to February 2021 in order to identify case reports or case series reporting on spondylodiscitis after rectopexy or sacrocolpopexy.

Results: We identified 52 total postoperative spondylodiscitis. We examined the mean age of patients, the surgical history, the time from initial surgery to spondylodiscitis, the presenting symptoms, the diagnostic tools, the medical and surgical treatment, the type of mesh used, the surgical access, and the possible causes of spondylodiscitis.

Conclusions: Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis may be challenging. From our review emerges that recurrent pelvic pain and lumbosciatalgia may be signals of lumbar spondylodiscitis. Magnetic resonance is the gold standard examination for spondylodiscitis. Surgical practice needs to be improved further in order to establish the best procedure to minimize the incidence of this complication. Awareness of symptoms, timely diagnosis, and treatment are fundamental to prevent irreversible complications.