Abstract
<jats:p>Objective: To investigate the impact of changes in the brain–vagina axis on the psycho- emotional state of women during the postmenopausal period. Materials and Methods: The study included 30 women divided into three groups: Group I — reproductive age (18–35 years), n = 10; Group II — premenopausal period (36–50 years), n = 10; Group III — postmenopausal period (≥51 years), n = 10. Results: In Group I, pathological vaginal discharge was observed in 39%, unpleasant odor in 37%, itching and burning in 28%, and psychoemotional symptoms in 32% (irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, internal tension, mood lability, impaired concentration, and sleep disturbances). In Group II, pathological vaginal discharge was detected in 80%, dyspareunia in 60%, itching and burning in 60%, sleep disturbances in 50%, and psychoemotional disorders in 23%. In Group III, vaginal dryness was reported in 90%, dyspareunia in 80%, itching and burning in 76%, and sleep disturbances in 70%. Depressive symptoms were identified in 62% of women and included persistent sadness and feelings of emptiness, anhedonia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, psychomotor retardation or agitation, changes in appetite and body weight, as well as thoughts of suicide. Conclusion: Thus, psychoemotional disorders were observed in 32% of women in Group I and 23% in Group II, whereas depressive symptoms were detected in 62% of postmenopausal women. These findings indicate a significant impact of estrogen deficiency–related alterations in the brain–vagina axis on women’s mental state.</jats:p>