Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM, is incredibly common – some research suggests more than 80 percent of people might experience symptoms like vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, or urinary incontinence after menopause. And unlike some other symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes or night sweats, genitourinary symptoms don’t get better over time. That makes recognizing the symptoms and learning about treatment options all the more important.
Margaret Wilkes, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, joined this episode of the Women’s Healthcast to demystify GSM. She talked about the normal hormonal changes that cause GSM, the three categories of GSM symptoms she most commonly sees, and the variety of hormonal and non-hormonal treatments available today.
Listen to Vulvovaginal Health After Menopause now.
Did you know the Women’s Healthcast is available on all your favorite podcast platforms? Whether you like to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!)
On January 8, 2026, Margaret Wilkes, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Addressing Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Improving Quality of Life in Midlife and Beyond”.
In the lecture, Wilkes described the impact of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) on sexual, urinary, and overall quality of life; how to identify and diagnose GS< based on clinical presentation and examination findings; and evaluated evidence-based treatment options for GSM.
Watch the whole lecture from Dr. Wilkes here.
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya
Members of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery presented at the American Urogynecology Society’s (AUGS) Pelvic Floor Disorder Week, held in Vancouver, Canada, from October 14-17, 2025. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Canadian Society for Pelvic Medicine. Their impressive presentations include:
Coping with Complications in Early- to Mid-surgical Career – Caroline Cox, MD, roundtable moderator
Short Oral – Non-Surgical Clinical App-based Interventions for Fecal Incontinence: Usability and Improvement – Ushma J. Patel, MD; Laura Keyser, DPT, MPH; Heidi W. Brown, MD, MAS; Natalia Gontarczyk Uczkowski; Dobie L. Giles, MD, MS, MBA
Rapid Fire: Digital Therapeutics for Fecal Incontinence: A Randomized Trial – Ushma J. Patel, MD; Laura Keyser, DPT, MPH; Natalia Gontarczyk Uczkowski; Dobie L. Giles, MD, MS, MBA; Heidi W. Brown, MD, MAS
Rapid Fire: Ultrasound to Identify Intraoperative Ureter Injury: A Simulation-based Study – Robert Z. Fender, MD, MSCI; Babak Vakili, MD; Matthew K. Hoffman, MD/MPH
Rapid Fire: Does Workup for Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria Decrease Mortality Risk? – Ushma J. Patel, MD; Natalia Gontarczyk Uczkowski; Yulissa Rodriguez-Hernandez, MPH; Julie Dorland, MD; Amy L. Godecker, PhD, MS; Caroline Cox, MD
Additionally, Margaret Wilkes, MD, joined the AUGS Membership Committee.
Congratulations to the presenters!
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya
