02/16/2026
One of the most common, and least talked about, is Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
Here’s what the research shows:
• 🔹 About 50% of postmenopausal women experience GSM.
• 🔹 Among breast cancer survivors, that number rises to 70–80%.
• 🔹 Survivors on aromatase inhibitors report even higher rates of vaginal dryness, burning, and painful intimacy.
• 🔹 Many women report dissatisfaction with available treatment options, especially when hormonal therapies are limited.
• 🔹 A large percentage of women never bring these symptoms up at all.
GSM isn’t “just dryness.”
It can look like:
– Pain with intimacy
– Vaginal burning or irritation
– Urinary urgency and frequency
– Recurrent UTIs
– Pelvic floor muscle guarding
And here’s what often gets missed:
Pain creates guarding.
Guarding creates more pain.
And the nervous system stays on high alert long after treatment ends.
This is where pelvic floor physical therapy can make a difference.
At our clinic, we focus on:
✨ Restoring tissue mobility after surgery or radiation
✨ Improving blood flow and elasticity
✨ Releasing pelvic floor tension
✨ Supporting nervous system regulation
✨ Providing non-hormonal strategies in collaboration with oncology teams
Through our Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, supported by the Pelvic Peace Foundation, we are committed to helping women move beyond survival and into strength, comfort, and confidence again.
If you or someone you love is navigating life after breast cancer, message us “SURVIVE & THRIVE” to learn more about our survivorship program.
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