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The Journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology"Journal HistoryAims and ScopePolicies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed ConsentEditorial ProcessData sharing statementAdvertising PolicyThe Process for Handling Cases Requiring Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Expressions of ConcernEditorial BoardEditorial CounsilInformation for ProfessionalsNewsContacts
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Obstetrics and Gynegology2026№2

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.274

Sulima A.N., Rumyantseva Z.S., Bakharovskaya A.S.

Order of the Red Banner of Labor S.I. Georgievsky Medical Institute, V.I. Vernadsky, Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the effects of the hypoestrogenic state during menopause on women’s reproductive and urinary systems. Until 2014, there was no concept of “genitourinary syndrome of menopause” (GSM). However, the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and the North American Menopause Society have suggested introducing this term to more accurately describe a woman’s condition during menopause. Vaginal dryness, burning, itching, dyspareunia, and many other symptoms characteristic of the syndrome significantly impair the quality of life during menopause; therefore, the discussion of this issue is getting more and more relevant. The review presents the data on the etiology and pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of GSM.  For the review, modern Russian and foreign literature available in open sources was studied: eLibrary (scientometric database), CyberLeninka (scientific electronic library), PubMed (English-language text database of medical and biological publications).
Conclusion: GSM is a modern term that refers to the impact of estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal period affecting the genitourinary organs. Many women underestimate the importance of changes in the reproductive and urinary systems, considering them a normal age adaptation. Therefore, it is important to develop effective methods of diagnosis, personalized treatment, and monitoring the effectiveness of GSM therapy. Topical hormone therapy with estriol has traditionally been used, but alternative approaches are more frequently introduced.

Authors’ contributions: Sulima A.N., Rumyantseva Z.S. – developing the concept and design of the study, editing the article; Bakharovskaya A.S. – collecting and processing the materials, writing the text.
Conflicts of interest: Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship. None of the authors has any financial interest in the materials or methods presented.
For citation: Sulima A.N., Rumyantseva Z.S., Bakharovskaya A.S.
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (2): 39-45 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.274

Keywords

genitourinary syndrome of menopause
menopause
diagnosis
tactics
treatment
estrogens
Full text (in Russian)

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Received 29.09.2025

Accepted 15.01.2026

About the Authors

Anna N. Sulima, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology No. 1, Order of the Labor Red Banner Medical Institute named after S.I. Georgievsky of V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, 295051, Russia, Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, Lenin blvd., 5/7, +7(978)764-82-00,
gsulima@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2671-6985
Zoya S. Rumyantseva, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology No. 1, Order of the Labor Red Banner Medical Institute named after S.I. Georgievsky of V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, 295051, Russia, Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, Lenin blvd., 5/7, +7(978)855-85-37,
zoyarum@inbox.ru, https://orcid.org/0001-0002-5845-588X
Anastasiya S. Bakharovskaya, medical student at the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Psychotherapy with a Course in General and Medical Psychology, Order of the Labor Red Banner Medical Institute named after S.I. Georgievsky of V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, 295051, Russia, Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, Lenin blvd., 5/7, +7(978)755-00-78, nastyabakharovskaya@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1489-0289
Corresponding author: Anna N. Sulima, gsulima@yandex.ru

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