IBSA UK has introduced Hyaluxelle, a non-hormonal menopause treatment for vulvo-vaginal atrophy, easing vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.

Hyaluxelle is given as deep intradermal injections to the vulvar vestibule, the area at the vaginal opening, in two sessions one month apart, followed by clinical reassessment.

IBSA UK is the UK subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical company IBSA.

Vulvo-vaginal atrophy is a key feature of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a long-term condition caused by low oestrogen that affects genital, urinary and sexual health.

At least half of post-menopausal women are affected, yet many do not seek help, often assuming symptoms are part of ageing.

The condition stems from thinning and drying of vaginal and vulval tissues linked to low oestrogen, leading to symptoms such as dryness, discomfort, altered pH and pain during intercourse.

Hyaluxelle combines high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, a moisture-retaining substance found naturally in the body.

The company says this creates a lower-viscosity injection at what it describes as the highest concentration available in the UK, supporting tissue hydration, firmness and elasticity.

The formulation is said to rehydrate the vulvar vestibule and create conditions for restoring tissue structure through collagen and elastin production.

Clinical studies indicate Hyaluxelle improves several vulvo-vaginal symptoms, including reductions in discomfort and pain during intercourse.

Studies also report gains in sexual function domains and a positive trend in some aspects of health-related quality of life.

Histological analyses suggest increased epithelial thickness, enhanced tissue regeneration and reduced inflammatory infiltration after the procedure. In studies, the treatment was well tolerated with no reported major complications.

Joanna, a 59-year-old woman living with severe symptoms, described the personal impact of delayed diagnosis.

She said: “I lived for years with pain, UTIs, cystitis and a loss of sensation, but every visit to my GP, even a female GP, was treated as a bladder issue.

“Nobody suggested it might be linked to the menopause or joined the dots, and none of the treatments I was given helped. Without the right information or support, I became desperate for answers.

“The symptoms affected everything, what I wore, how I exercised, how I slept, but the hardest part was the impact on intimacy with my husband.

“I withdrew from our relationship because I was scared sex would hurt, and the loss of closeness was devastating, and I no longer felt like myself.

“Women deserve clear explanations and real options when their symptoms are not getting better.”

IBSA says Hyaluxelle offers clinicians an option for women whose symptoms persist despite first-line therapies, or for those who cannot receive or choose not to receive hormonal treatments.

A study of 17,494 people has revealed a gap between perimenopause symptoms people expect and those they report, with fatigue and exhaustion far outranking hot flushes.

While 71 per cent associated perimenopause with hot flushes, those reporting perimenopause cited exhaustion (95 per cent) and fatigue (93 per cent) far more often.

Among more than 12,000 participants over age 35, the most common symptoms were fatigue (83 per cent), exhaustion (83 per cent), irritability (80 per cent), low mood (77 per cent), sleep problems (76 per cent), digestive issues (76 per cent) and anxiety (75 per cent).

Researchers at Mayo Clinic conducted the study with Flo, a women’s health application, assessing symptoms among 17,494 people from 158 countries.

First author Mary Hedges is a community internal medicine physician at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Hedges said: “This study shines a light on how little we still understand about perimenopause and how much it affects people’s daily lives.

“At Mayo Clinic, we’re working to expand that understanding so we can improve awareness and guide care that truly meets the needs of each patient.”

The findings show fatigue, mood changes and sleep-related issues sit at the centre of many people’s experiences during perimenopause, the years leading up to the final menstrual period and the first year after it ends. This transition can start in the 30s and last several years.

When asked what they associate with perimenopause, participants most often named hot flushes (71 per cent), sleep problems (68 per cent) and weight gain (65 per cent).

The study distinguishes between exhaustion and fatigue, with exhaustion defined as a general decrease in performance, impaired memory, decreased concentration and forgetfulness, whilst fatigue refers to physical exhaustion.

Researchers noted that hormone shifts may disrupt the body’s natural rhythms and restorative sleep, while mood changes can be influenced by hormones, inflammation and diet.