Female Urology
Melissa Kaufman, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)
Professor of Urology
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Una Lee, MD (she/her/hers)
Section Head, Section of Urology and Renal Transplantation
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Rachel Rubin, MD (she/her/hers)
Assistant clinical professor in Urology
Georgetown University Hospital
Course Description: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a term that describes the spectrum of symptoms and signs caused by hypoestrogenic changes in urogenital tissues typically occurring during menopause. Symptoms of GSM may include vulvovaginal dryness, burning and irritation; sexual symptoms of lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain or impaired function; and urinary symptoms of urgency, dysuria or recurrent urinary tract infections. An unfortunate barrier to treatment is that women believe symptoms of GSM are a normal consequence of aging that they must accept. As a result, women rarely discuss symptoms with their health care provider, and providers do not consistently ask about symptoms.
Although a handful of recent position and consensus statements on the management of GSM exist, a clinical practice guideline based on an independent systematic review of the evidence has yet to be produced. Consequently, this instructional course that synthesizes the totality of evidence available on the benefits and harms of screening, diagnosis and treatment of GSM will inform decision making for health care professionals, clinicians, patients and caregivers.