Menopause Changes "Down South"
Every woman should know about genitourinary syndrome of menopause. So let’s talk about it.
Hello from Utah! My husband and I are picking up the car our son has been using during his internship and are driving back to Ohio via three new-to-us national parks. A few years ago we decided we wanted to visit all 63 national parks and after our road trip we’ll have visited 31 - so nearly half way there!
As promised, here is the first of three emails about genitourinary syndrome of menopause, which is a fancy name for changes nearly all women will experience post menopause. In other words: this information is relevant to YOU!
Without further ado:
A few years ago, several church congregations in my area launched an initiative to gather menstrual period supplies to donate to local women’s shelters. As I was announcing the details to a group of women at my church, one of the older women gasped in horror and disapproval. How could we possibly consider placing boxes of tampons and pads WHERE THE MEN MIGHT SEE THEM!?!?!?
My response could have been more compassionate. But it wasn’t. Oops!
I replied (in a tone that would have left my husband sarcastically saying, “So tell us how you really feel Rebecca”), “Nope, we’re not going to do that thing where we feel shame for a completely normal, natural process like menstruating, and we’re especially not going to hide our period products to make men feel more comfortable. They can deal with it.”
So why am I telling you this story?
To let you know that we’re not going to do that thing where we experience discomfort, pain, or chronic infections in intimate areas of our body and hide it in an effort to spare others (our partners, care providers, etc.) any sort of discomfort. We’re not going to suffer in silence and let whatever pain we’re in impact the quality of our life because we’re scared of an awkward conversation. Our loved ones and care providers can deal with it. No really, they can!
Here’s what we’re going to do instead:
We are going to normalize menopause-related changes in ALL AREAS of our bodies and the way that we’re going to do that is by talking about them openly and without shame. And, we’re also going to normalize the idea that it’s not okay for women to needlessly suffer. Got it?
With that out of the way, here’s how this 3-part series is going to work:
Today’s post is all about giving you a basic rundown of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Next week I’ll dive into vulva and vaginal issues. The week after that, I’ll tackle urinary tract and bladder issues.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
What is genitourinary syndrome of menopause?
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause or GSM is the medical term for any of the changes you may experience to the vulva, vagina or lower urinary tract as estrogen declines during the menopause transition.
Why does it happen?
Some of the changes are due to age (like changes in blood flow and collagen) but most of the changes are due to declining estrogen, which keeps vulvar and vaginal tissues lubricated, healthy and strong. As estrogen declines, muscles lose strength and tissues become more fragile.
What symptoms does it cause?
These changes can create symptoms like dryness, burning, or general irritation of the tissues. They can also cause painful sex and bladder issues including incontinence and recurring UTI’s.
How many women will experience it?
The book, Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Wants You to Know by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cites a long-term study that looked at vaginal changes related to menopause. In the study, approximately 60% of women reported symptoms of GSM when they officially reached menopause. And approximately 80% of women reported GSM symptoms 5 years post-menopause. Translation: most of us will deal with GSM symptoms.
What can be done to treat it?
Thankfully, there are TONS of safe options including over-the-counter solutions, prescription creams, physical therapy for pelvic floor issues, etc. The bottom line is: there’s hope! So, so, so much hope. We’ll dive into the specifics over the next few weeks.
Anything else I should know right now?
Yep! Just one last very important take away: unlike a lot of other menopause symptoms, GSM symptoms tend to stick around - especially moderate to severe symptoms. Don’t plan to “ride them out” and hope they get better because they likely won’t. So if you realize you’re experiencing GSM symptoms, resolve to do something about it. Future You will be so grateful you proactively took care of yourself.
Until next week!
xo, Rebecca
P.S. Toot toot