Let's say you're trying to find some solid information about a serious health problem that concerns you, high blood pressure, diabetes.

Yet everywhere you look, someone's trying to sell you something like vitamins

yoga mats blenders drugs well breathe a sigh relief because all we bring you are the facts.

Welcome to the nutrition facts podcast.

I'm your host Dr Michael Greger.

Today we talk about the best way to manage the symptoms of menopause, starting with the management of genitourinary symptoms.

Typically starting about four to five years after their last period, about half of post-menopausal women suffer what we used to call

vovovaginal atrophy, now referred to by the name GSM, genital urinary syndrome of menopause, thanks to the vulvogonal atrophy terminology

consensus conference who needed a more publicly acceptable term.

After all, the word atrophy had negative connotations in the word vagina is not a generally

accepted term for public discourse.

They liken it to the shift from the pejorative impotence to erectile dysfunction.

Whatever you call it involves changes to the vulva, the external genitalia, the vagina, the birth

canal, and bladder caused by menopausal changes in hormone levels.

Vageonal symptoms include vaginal dryness, burning, itchiness, and irritation, pain during

penetrative sex, and post-quital bleeding from the thinning of the vaginal lining.

UNA symptoms can include recurrent bladder infections and incontinence.

Some women with mild GSM remain asymptomatic for others, symptom severity can preclude intercourse altogether and result in discomfort even just sitting or wiping.

In a survey of thousands of women with GSM, 59% said their symptoms considerably decrease. of enjoyment of life. While other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes tend to

improve over time, GSM symptoms tend to get progressively worse.

Unfortunately, women rarely seek medical help even though there are safe and simple treatments available.

The first line treatment for mild to moderate vaginal dryness are lubricants and moisturizer.

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