It's NOT just about Vaginal Dryness at Menopause and Perimenopause: The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
It’s NOT just vaginal dryness and painful sex!
Here are some facts:
27% to 84% of postmenopausal women experience symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) including painful sex, a burning or pricking sensation in the vagina, frequency of passing urine, nocturia (having to pee multiple times at night), recurrent urinary tract infections, incontinence…..
More than 50% don’t use any therapy for this problem
Women who are NOT sexually active also experience symptoms of GSM
75% of postmenopausal women experiencing vaginal symptoms feel that their symptoms negatively impact their lives
BUT
Almost 75% do not discuss it with their healthcare provider!
Taboo, shame, embarrassment, and “it's natural aging”.....are just some reasons why
BUT ladies,
We don’t need to suffer. All we need to do is ASK!
#menopause #menopausewize #nopausingme #menopausesymptoms #vaginaldryness
#urinarytractinfections #vaginalhealth #menopausehealth #menopausematters #perimenopause #nopausingme #womenover50fitness #womenover30 #womenover40
TRANSCRIPT
Vaginal dryness - is an extremely common symptom of perimenopause and menopause AND if you aren't sexually active you are probably thinking I don’t need to deal with painful sex and so, this isn't relevant to me. But hold on, you may experience other symptoms that are part of the Genitourinary syndrome of menopause - such as a burning, itching, or pricking sensation in the vaginal area, having to pee very often, rushing to pee, or waking up many times at night to pass urine or even recurrent urinary tract infections. Most women will not initiate a conversation about vaginal dryness with their healthcare provider out of embarrassment or shame. And that’s a shame. And that's why when I was asked by one of our MenopauseWize community members about it, I grabbed the opportunity to do a series of reels on it. Starting from the perimenopausal years, the decline in estrogen levels makes the lining of the vagina and bladder thin and gives rise to all the symptoms that I just mentioned. Why is it important for you to know? Firstly because they are progressive - which means they will continue to get worse as time passes post menopause if they’re not treated or prevented
and secondly, because they are easily treatable! More in my next few reels...so Stay tuned and be menopauseWize!