Genitourinary syndrome (GSM)
- 10 Dec 2023
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Genitourinary syndrome (GSM)
- Updated on 10 Dec 2023
- 1 Minute to read
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- PDF
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- Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) was previously called vulvovaginal atrophy, atrophic vaginitis or urogenital atrophy.
- The new terminology was introduced because the word atrophy has negative connotations for some women, the word vagina is not a generally accepted term for public discourse and the new term was felt to be more inclusive of urinary symptoms.
- It describes the signs and symptoms caused by loss of oestrogen in the genitourinary tract.
- Symptoms can present a number of years after the menopause and, without treatment, usually get worse with time, which can negatively affect the quality of life and sexual relationships.
- It is reported to be experienced by 50% of menopausal women.
References and Further Information:
- NICE menopause CKS. Background information. Definition. Last updated Sept 2022.
- Menopause Practice Standards produced by the British Menopause Society (BMS), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Society for Endocrinology (SfE), Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) 2022.
- NAMS Position Statement. The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. Vol 27. 9 (976-992). 2020.
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