title: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: an overview of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, and management.
abstract: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a new term for a condition more renowned as atrophic vaginitis, is a hypoestrogenic condition with external genital, urological, and sexual implications that affects >50% of postmenopausal women. Due to sexual embarrassment and the sensitive nature of discussing symptoms, genitourinary syndrome of menopause is greatly underdiagnosed. The most up-to-date literature pertaining to clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, and management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause is comprehensively reviewed. Early detection and individually tailored pharmacologic (eg, estrogen therapy, selective estrogen receptor modulator, synthetic steroid, oxytocin, and dehydroepiandrosterone) and/or nonpharmacologic (eg, laser therapies, moisturizers and lubricants, homeopathic remedies, and lifestyle modifications) treatment is paramount for not only improving quality of life but also for preventing exacerbation of symptoms in women with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dagur
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Yiji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Foley Plaza Medical, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Brianna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cali
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY; Department of Urology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Electronic address: skysalik@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sardar Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D059268:Atrophic Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods; D054327:Lubricants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D054327:Lubricants; D010120:Oxytocics; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: atrophic vaginitis; dyspareunia; estrogen-progestin therapy; genitourinary syndrome of menopause; hypoestrogenism; menopausal hormone therapy; nonhormonal vaginal therapy; quality of life; urinary incontinence; urogenital atrophy; vaginal maturation index; vulvovaginal atrophy