BackTable Brief: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Mitigating Risks and Enhancing Treatment with Dr. Rachel Rubin

How can we address barriers to care for women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause? In this episode, host Dr. Suzette Sutherland and Dr. Rachel Rubin discuss the challenges and misconceptions around Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). They identify the severity of symptoms such as pain, urinary issues, and recurrent infections that are often inadequately addressed. Dr. Rubin advocates for the use of vaginal estrogen, emphasizing that its benefits outweigh any perceived risks, contrasting it with other treatments like tamoxifen. The discussion includes the efforts to create guidelines for GSM through the American Urological Association (AUA) to standardize care, and the use of systemic and localized hormonal therapies, particularly in cancer patients. The session highlights the importance of updated medical practices and shared decision-making in treating GSM and related conditions. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Understanding Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) 01:33 - Challenges, Misconceptions, and Advocacy 02:31 - Developing GSM Guidelines 04:34 - Hormonal Replacement Therapy and GSM 05:46 - Vaginal Rings 06:59 - Cancer Survivors and Vaginal Estrogen 09:17 - Shared Decision Making CHECK OUT THE FULL EPISODE OBGYN Ep. 33 - Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Improving a DRY Topic https://www.backtable.com/shows/obgyn/podcasts/33/genitourinary-syndrome-of-menopause-gsm-improving-a-dry-topic