Sadie, a 76 year old woman who presented to my clinical practice because of a prolapsed bladder (cystocele). I fitted her with a pessary, a medical grade silicone device that supports a fallen bladder and keeps it back in place.
Sadie had not been using any low dose localized estrogen for her accompanying genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) because of a history of breast cancer. This was problematic as it is advisable that a woman treat her GSM especially when she has a pessary to help maintain the integrity of the vaginal tissues.
Sadie was surprised and disappointed that her doctor had never mentioned this common women’s health issue, when I educated her on the subject and how decreasing estrogen receptors in the vagina at menopause leads to GSM and other symptoms outlined below:
Vaginal dryness
Burning
Post-coital bleeding
Recurrent Urinary Tract infections
Thin watery discharge
I advised Sadie that it was important she moisturize her vaginal tissues. She was delighted to learn about personal moisturizers, specifically Gynatrof a hormone-free personal moisturizer approved by Health Canada for GSM. What is nice about Gynatrof is that it comes with a plunger so the Gynatrof can be inserted into the the vagina where it is needed. Other creams may only be applied to the labia which is not helpful as it does not get absorbed to the vaginal tissues.
Sadie started using Gynatrof and after two months, her vaginal tissues were more supple, the dryness was gone and as she said she felt healthier “down there.” To quote Joni Mitchell’s famous Big Yellow Taxi, “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”
GSM or vaginal atrophy as it was previously termed must be treated ladies and doctors! But first, it is important that women are educated about this health condition that may contribute to prolapse of the bladder, vagina or rectum. GSM or vaginal atrophy is also responsible for ending the sex lives of many women.
So ladies pick up your Gynatrof at London Drugs because you don’t need a prescription. Because it is truly a gel (not a cream like some others who pass themselves off as a gel), it is a great lubricant to use during sex too. Got to get some girlfriend, Gynatrof that is!
Maureen McGrath is a Registered Nurse host of the Sunday Night Sex Show on News Talk 980 CKNW, feminist, women’s health expert and a 2016 TED speaker on the Sexless Marriage. Her book is available on Amazon.ca : Sex & Health: Why One Can’t Come Without The Other. She is recipient of the Vancouver Board of Trade Community Catalyst Award 2016 and a finalist for YWCA Women of Distinction.
