Modern management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Ana Sofia Da Silva; Georgina Baines; George Araklitis; Dudley Robinson; Linda Cardozo

doi:10.12703/r/10-25

Modern management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Fac Rev. 2021 Mar 3:10:25. doi: 10.12703/r/10-25. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ana Sofia Da Silva¹, Georgina Baines¹, George Araklitis¹, Dudley Robinson¹, Linda Cardozo¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Urogynaecology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.

Abstract

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is the accepted term used to describe the broad spectrum of genitourinary tract symptoms and signs caused by the loss of endogenous sex steroids that occurs at the time of and after the menopause. Global improvements in healthcare have resulted in an ageing population. Today, women are spending 40% of their lives in the postmenopausal state, and with 50-70% of postmenopausal women reporting symptomatic GSM, safe and efficacious treatments are needed for this troublesome condition. This article reviews current evidence for non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments with a focus on novel and minimally invasive procedures such as energy-based devices (CO₂ laser, YAG laser), hyaluronic acid, dehydroepiandrosterone, and selective oestrogen receptor modulators.

Keywords: CO2 laser; DHEA; Er:YAG; GSM; Genitourinary syndrome of menopause; Hyaluronic acid; Intrarosa; Laser; Lubricants; Moisturisers; Oestrogen; Orasterone; Ospemifene; Osphena; Ovestin; SERMS; Vagifem.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors declare that no grants were involved in supporting this work.