October 18 was World Menopause Day.

Hot flashes are the first thing that comes to mind, but there’s another set of symptoms—more subtle, yet very common—including vaginal dryness, burning, pain during intercourse, urinary incontinence, and a frequent urge to urinate… This combination has a name: menopausal genitourinary syndrome, or MGUS.

The good news: it can be treated. We’ll explain everything, without holding anything back.

Please read this first: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you experience these symptoms, talk to your doctor, gynecologist, or midwife.

Menopause In Brief

According to the French National Health Insurance, menopause occurs naturally between the ages of 45 and 55, with an average age of 51.

Menopause is considered to have set in when a woman has not had a period for 12 months. It is preceded by perimenopause, which begins 2 to 4 years earlier.

At this time, the production of female hormones—particularly estrogen—drops sharply. These hormones play an essential role in the health of the intimate tissues: the vagina, vulva, bladder, urethra, and perineum.

What exactly is the SGUM?

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause refers to the effects of this decline in estrogen on the genital and urinary systems. The tissues become thinner, less hydrated, and less elastic.

The most common symptoms:

⇒ Intimate symptoms: vaginal dryness, burning, irritation, pain, or decreased pleasure during intercourse;
⇒ Urinary symptoms: frequent or urgent urges to urinate, urinary leakage, and more frequent urinary tract infections.

More than 36% of women

Key figure: According to recommendations from the CNGOF (National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians), SGUM affects between 36% and 90% of postmenopausal women, depending on the study. However, only 10% of them are reportedly receiving treatment.

⇒ Autrement dit : c’est très courant, mais on en parle encore trop peu. Contrairement aux bouffées de chaleur, qui s’atténuent souvent avec le temps, le SGUM a tendance à s’installer progressivement. Raison de plus pour ne pas attendre !

What are some solutions to SGUM?

First step: Talk to a healthcare professional. They will confirm the diagnosis and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. According to CNGOF recommendations, several options are available:

→ Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are the first-line treatment. Moisturizers are used regularly, while lubricants are used during intercourse.
→ Topical estrogens (creams, suppositories) may be prescribed by your doctor if these products are not sufficient or if symptoms are more severe.
→ Perineal rehabilitation is recommended when an assessment reveals a weakened perineum, particularly in cases of urinary incontinence. It is performed by a physical therapist or a midwife and may involve biofeedback or electrostimulation using a rehabilitation probe.

Our expertise: At Sugar International, our line of rehabilitation catheters was designed by a therapist specializing in urogynecology. For 30 years, we have been supporting professionals who help their patients regain comfort and confidence.

To conclude

Dryness, discomfort, leakage, and frequent urges: During menopause, these symptoms are common, but you don’t have to put up with them, and they aren’t inevitable.

They have a name—SGUM—and effective solutions are available.

World Menopause Day has come and gone, but this resolution remains valid all year long: talk to your healthcare provider about it 💜

⇒ To learn more, (re)read our Pink October article “After Breast Cancer, Taking Care of Your Intimate Health, Too ⬈ ,” as well as “The Perineum: Definition, Role, and Importance for Health ⬈.”