Just a couple of decades ago, discussions about menopause were few and far between.
These discussions weren’t taking place in the medical world either, leaving the 1.3 million American women who enter menopause each year a little bit in the dark.
Thankfully, this is changing, and menopause is now getting the long-overdue attention it deserves, starting with a new name for the significant, and often life-altering, changes that come with this hormonal transition — genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).
Our own board-certified gynecologist, Dr. Karen F. Brodman, has been leading this charge and is a North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner with expertise in menopause and perimenopause issues.
Dr. Brodman is an expert in genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and we dive into why this distinction is important.
Any time you see the word syndrome, it refers to a collection of potential side effects, and this classification is mostly reserved for conditions that can lead to several possible symptoms, some of them seemingly unrelated.
If you’re transitioning through perimenopause or menopause, we don’t need to tell you about the sheer number of possible side effects, and this number has been regrettably underestimated for years.
Thanks to the introduction of the GSM concept in 2014, we’re now acknowledging that these hormonal transitions cast a much wider net than was previously known.
What was thought of as just a few hot flashes has become a long, laundry list of symptoms that include different areas of your health, including your:
With the GSM moniker, our goal is to include these side effects, which are much longer-lasting than the temporary ones, like hot flashes.
GSM represents an important shift in the thinking surrounding menopause, and it’s helping women to be heard more than they once were.
Women who are experiencing side effects of menopause that fall under the GSM umbrella can encounter:
As the name suggests, any side effect that involves your vaginal, genital, and urinary health is included under GSM.
The good news is that with a growing recognition of the unpleasant side effects of GSM, more women are seeking help for these changes, with great success.
Treatment of GSM can have major benefits on your vaginal, sexual, and bladder health and most women find that, with treatment, they have improvement in bladder control, fewer UTIs, and improved sexual activity.
These treatments include:
It’s difficult to say here what might work for you, as each woman experiences their own journey through menopause. Rest assured, we meet you where you’re at with menopause and GSM and help you move forward with better health.
For expert oversight and treatment of GSM, please contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brodman at our New York City office located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
