Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of the menopause (GSM) signs and symptoms and their severity in postmenopausal Jordanian women attending a tertiary care hospital in Jordan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women with medical records at the University of Jordan Hospital complaining of symptoms related to the GSM. The participants were contacted by phone, briefed about the study, and asked if they would like to enroll. The study included demographic questions and validated assessments of Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) and Vulvar Disease Quality of Life Index (VQLI). Differences in the mean scores were assessed based on data normality and association assessment was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results: GSM was reported by 84.9% of 325 postmenopausal women enrolled in the study with an average of 5.1 symptoms per person. Most of the reported urinary symptoms were stress urinary incontinence (54.8%), followed by urge incontinence (48.6%). Furthermore, most reported genital complaints were vulva itching and/or burning sensations (41.2%) and vaginal discharge (40.3%). GSM interfered with the participants’ sexual activity in 44% of the population studied. Smoking was associated with higher UDI-6 scores (p =0.045), and with stress urinary incontinence (1.74 versus 2.19; p = 0.004) and painful intercourse (1.66 versus 2.27; p = 0.011). Furthermore, high BMI was associated with higher UDI-6 and VQDL1 scores (p = 0.029 and p = 0.043). Dysuria was higher (p = 0.007) in women with shorter years of postmenopause (5 years or less), whereas difficulty in emptying the bladder and GSM interference with sexual activity scores were higher in women who had been postmenopausal for more than 5 years (p = 0.041, p = 0.053). Conclusion: The present study showed that a high percentage of postmenopausal Jordanian women developed GSM, with several symptoms per person. Furthermore, the severity of GSM interfered with sexual activity. Smoking and obesity were associated with overall GSM symptoms in Jordanian women. Keywords: dyspareunia, GSM, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness
Qatawneh et al. (Wed,) studied this question.