GSM - Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
Symptoms, Risks, Vaginal Estrogen, Pelvic Floor PT & Radiofrequency Options This Peri & Pause episode features Jamie Gallagher, a nationally board-certified family nurse practitioner and Menopause Society certified practitioner, discussing genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), the updated term replacing “vaginal atrophy” because it affects both vaginal and urinary tissues. They explain how declining estrogen causes tissue thinning that can lead to dryness, burning, itching without discharge, pain or bleeding with sex, urinary leakage, increased UTIs, and even life-threatening urosepsis, noting symptoms are often underreported and frequently dismissed as “normal.” First-line options include vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, with vaginal estrogen emphasized as key and not “duplicate therapy” with systemic hormones. Additional approaches include pelvic floor physical therapy and emerging energy-based radiofrequency (including microneedling RF) to stimulate collagen, improve continence and tissue health, with a typical three-treatment series and annual maintenance. 00:00 Welcome to Peri & Pause 00:39 What Is GSM 02:01 Why It Matters 03:32 Estrogen and Tissue Changes 05:10 How Common and Why Silent 06:42 Diagnosis and First Steps 08:31 Vaginal Estrogen Options 10:35 Beyond Estrogen Treatments 12:03 Radiofrequency Explained 13:36 Practice Mission Break 15:16 Expected Results Timeline 17:19 Research and Incontinence Types 20:35 Procedure and Downtime 24:04 How to Get Help 25:51 Wrap Up and Disclaimer
- Transcript