News Release

Menopausal women experiencing distressing pain during sex

Patient attitudes and insights about vulvar and vaginal atrophy to be presented at The North American Menopause Society Annual Meeting

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Las Vegas, Oct. 1, 2015 - Results from qualitative research of postmenopausal women with vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) show that they recognize the significant physical, emotional and psychological consequences of untreated dyspareunia (painful sex) yet they continue to suffer because of misperceptions about the condition and a general lack of understanding about treatment options.

Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, Chief of Behavioral Medicine in the Department of OB/GYN at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, will present the findings during an oral presentation, "Women's Attitudes and Behaviors towards Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy." The presentation is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 4:45 p.m. PDT at The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) 2015 Annual Meeting, held at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas from Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2015. This announcement was made by University Hospitals Case Medical Center and TherapeuticsMD, Inc. (NYSE MKT: TXMD). This qualitative research was funded by TherapeuticsMD.

"Many women continue to experience pain during sex because they mistakenly believe VVA to be a sexual consequence of aging instead of the true medical condition that we know it to be," said Dr. Kingsberg, who is also Professor of Reproductive Biology and Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "Although they characterize their symptoms in medical terms - severe pain, sensitivity and soreness that lasts for days, and vaginal bleeding and irritation - they perceive these symptoms to be part of a sexual problem that is not supposed to be discussed with, and managed by, a health care professional. This may help explain why VVA remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, with only 7 percent of women who experience symptoms treated with prescription therapy."†

The findings show that women who are motivated to treat their moderate to severe dyspareunia raise the issue with their physicians and switch providers until they find one who suggests satisfactory treatment options. However, they are not educated about the underlying clinical cause, potential benefits of estrogen therapy, or the differences between systemic estrogen and local estrogen. These knowledge gaps contribute to misperceptions about treatment benefits and risk, and are barriers to treatment. Women who are currently not motivated to seek treatment say that they were ignored by physicians when they did manage to overcome their embarrassment and speak about their symptoms.

Dyspareunia affects between 25 and 45 percent of postmenopausal women.† The most common cause is VVA, which can significantly impair the quality of life in postmenopausal women and impact their sexual function. VVA is a component of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), a chronic condition resulting from the decrease in naturally occurring estrogen at menopause, which leads to thinning of the vaginal lining and an increase in vaginal pH levels.

"VVA is a common consequence of menopause that affects up to 32 million women, so discussing the underlying condition as well as treatment options for dyspareunia should be a natural conversation between women and health care professionals," Dr. Kingsberg added. "Women deserve to know the facts about the condition and to understand the clinical benefits of local estrogen therapy for relief from painful sexual intercourse and the negative impact it has on other areas of their lives."

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About University Hospitals

University Hospitals, the second largest private employer in Northeast Ohio with 26,000 employees, serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 16 hospitals, more than 35 outpatient health centers and primary care physician offices in 15 counties. At the core of our $3.5 billion health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center, ranked among America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UH Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopaedics, radiology, neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, digestive health, transplantation and genetics. Its main campus includes UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. For more information, go to http://www.uhhospitals.org

About TherapeuticsMD, Inc.

TherapeuticsMD, Inc. is an innovative healthcare company focused on developing and commercializing products exclusively for women. With its patented SYMBODA™ technology, TherapeuticsMD is developing advanced hormone therapy pharmaceutical products to enable delivery of bio-identical hormones through a variety of dosage forms and administration routes. The company's clinical development pipeline includes two phase 3 products. The company also manufactures and distributes branded and generic prescription prenatal vitamins as well as over-the-counter vitamins under vitaMedMD® and BocaGreenMD® brands. More information is available at the following websites: http://www.therapeuticsmd.com, http://www.vitamedmd.com, http://www.vitamedmdrx.com and http://www.bocagreenmd.com.

This press release by TherapeuticsMD, Inc. may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to TherapeuticsMD's objectives, plans and strategies as well as statements, other than historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the company intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as "believes," "hopes," "may," "anticipates," "should," "intends," "plans," "will," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "positioned," "strategy" and similar expressions and are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the company undertakes no duty to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the company's control. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in the sections titled "Risk Factors" in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as reports on Form 8-K, and include the following: the company's ability to maintain or increase sales of its products; the company's ability to develop and commercialize its hormone therapy drug candidates and obtain additional financing necessary therefor; the length, cost and uncertain results of the company's clinical trials; the potential of adverse side effects or other safety risks that could preclude the approval of the company's hormone therapy drug candidates; the company's reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials, research and development and manufacturing; the availability of reimbursement from government authorities and health insurance companies for the company's products; the impact of product liability lawsuits; the influence of extensive and costly government regulation; the volatility of the trading price of the company's common stock and the concentration of power in its stock ownership. PDF copies of the company's historical press releases and financial tables can be viewed and downloaded at its website: http://www.therapeuticsmd.com/pressreleases.aspx.

Reference

† Kingsberg, Sheryl A., et. al. "Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy in Postmenopausal Women: Findings from the REVIVE (REal Women's VIews of Treatment Options for Menopausal Vaginal ChangEs) Survey." Journal of Sexual Medicine 2013, no. 10, 1790-1799.


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