In this episode, I walk through the basics of vaginal estrogen and vaginal DHEA for genitourinary syndrome of menopause, recurrent UTIs, painful sex, urinary urgency, and vulvar tissue changes. I also answer audience questions throughout, covering safety after breast cancer, use alongside systemic HRT, dosing, formulations, and what to do when symptoms don't improve. This one's for clinicians and the general public alike, the focus is correcting misinformation, improving access, and helping people understand that low hormones can affect the pelvis long before or long after menopause. What We Cover What genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) actually means, and why it replaced older terms like vaginal atrophyThe full range of GSM symptoms — urinary urgency, recurrent UTIs, bladder leakage, pain with sex, dryness, tissue thinning — as one unifying hormone-related syndromeWhy GSM is so common (roughly 50–90% of women at or after menopause) and can start in perimenopause, during breastfeeding, on oral birth control, or after cancer treatmentData showing vaginal estrogen can reduce recurrent UTIs by about 50%, plus a large database study linking vaginal estrogen use to lower hospitalization, ICU admission, and sepsis-related death in women with recurrent UTIsWhy "too old for vaginal estrogen" is a myth, and why age alone is never a reason to deny itSafety after breast cancer — why the evidence supports vaginal estrogen for many survivors, and why "zombie myths" keep resurfacing anywayThe difference between systemic and local hormone therapy, and why some people need bothCreams vs. tablets vs. rings vs. vaginal DHEA — and why DHEA can be especially useful for reversing established atrophy (it converts to both estrogen and testosterone)Practical stuff: burning, discharge, application technique, dosing frequency, and when it's time for a pelvic exam instead of another productUsing vaginal estrogen alongside clobetasol for lichen sclerosus, and alongside systemic estrogen or testosterone when appropriate Notable Quotes "The third pillar of academia is to communicate the research, to communicate the knowledge to the general population.""There is not an age your driver's license tells you if you're too young or too old for vaginal estrogen.""If atrophy happens because of low hormones and you add hormones back, you can reverse atrophy." Key Frameworks GSM as the unifying diagnosis for urinary, sexual, and vulvovaginal symptomsLocal hormone therapy vs. systemic hormone therapyPrevention vs. symptom treatment"Zombie myths" — outdated beliefs that keep resurfacing despite the evidence Want to join me live for these? Get on my email list so you don't miss the next one. As always, this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice — talk to your own doctor about your own health. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. 🎙️ You Are Not Broken is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class: My Website Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? Waitlist is open Thanks to our sponsor: Addyi, the little pink pill. To find out if Addyi is right for you, go to addyi.com/notbroken and use code NOTBROKEN for a $10 telemedicine appointment.And great news: with commercial insurance coverage Addyi is as little as $20 a month! Visit Addyi.com/notbroken. Eligible patients only. Restrictions apply. See Full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning at addyi.com/pi This episode is sponsored by Joi and Blokes. If you’ve been wondering whether hormones could be playing a role in how you feel, Joi and Blokes can help you get answers. Start with comprehensive lab testing, then work with a licensed clinician to understand your results and discuss treatment options that may be right for you. Visit JoiAndBlokes.com/notbroken and use code NOTBROKEN for 65% off labs and 20% off treatment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
