Uro-genital
The following topics concerning the uro-genital areas may be found in the AMS Information Sheets.
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
Genito-urinary symptoms are associated both with the hormonal changes occurring at menopause and with ageing.1 Unlike vasomotor symptoms, which for most women improve over time, urogenital symptoms often persist throughout postmenopausal life and tend to worsen as the women age.
Embarrassment, or the perception that these symptoms are inevitable or untreatable, may prevent many women from raising them with their clinician.
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) was previously known as atrophic vaginitis or vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). The new terminology was adopted in 2014 since it was acknowledged that VVA did not cover any of the changes seen in the urinary system and did not apply specifically to menopausal women.2 However, the older terms of VVA and ‘atrophic vaginitis’ are still commonly used in practice.
Changes in vaginal and urethral health occur with both natural and surgical menopause, as well as after treatments for hormonally dependent cancers.
(Please refer to AMS Information Sheet 'Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause').
AMS Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause449.91 KB (Previously called Vulvovaginal Atrophy)
Vaginal health after breast cancer: A guide for patients
Women who have had breast cancer treatment before menopause might find they develop symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, joint aches and vaginal dryness.
These are symptoms of low oestrogen, which occur naturally with age, but may also occur in younger women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. These changes are called the genito-urinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which was previously known as atrophic vaginitis.
Unlike some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, which may go away as time passes, vaginal dryness, discomfort with intercourse and changes in sexual function often persist and may get worse with time.
The increased use of adjuvant treatments (medications that are used after surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy), which evidence shows reduce the risk of the cancer recurring, unfortunately leads to more side-effects.
Your health and comfort are important, so don’t be embarrassed about raising these issues with your doctor.
This Information Sheet offers some advice for what you can do to maintain the health of your vagina, your vulva (the external genitals) and your urethra (outlet from the bladder), with special attention to the needs of women who have had breast cancer treatment.
AMS Vaginal health after breast cancer: A guide for patients139.12 KB
Note: Medical and scientific information provided and endorsed by the Australasian Menopause Society might not be relevant to a particular person's circumstances and should always be discussed with that person's own healthcare provider.
These Information Sheets may contain copyright or otherwise protected material. Reproduction of this Information Sheet by Australasian Menopause Society Members and other health professionals for clinical practice is permissible. Any other use of this information (hardcopy and electronic versions) must be agreed to and approved by the Australasian Menopause Society.
Content Updated October 2024