Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: why, how and when?

Abstract

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is caused by chronic deprivation of estrogen and other sex steroids during the postmenopausal period, which leads to changes in the vulvovaginal tissues. These changes cause bothersome symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, pruritus, dyspareunia, increased daytime urinary frequency, urgency and urinary incontinence, which have considerable negative effects on women's quality of life and sexual function. Recent studies have investigated a novel treatment approach for GSM. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation, a low-cost conservative management with no side-effects, has been studied alone or in combination with other treatment modalities to reduce the signs and symptoms of GSM. The aim of this article is to discuss why PFM rehabilitation could be useful for women with GSM, how it may help improve signs and symptoms of GSM and when this treatment should be recommended.