Menopause doesn’t just cause hot flashes—it can hit your bladder and vagina like a stealthy ninja. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) affects nearly half of peri- and postmenopausal women and is often misdiagnosed as UTIs or IC. Symptoms like vaginal dryness, pain with sex, and urinary urgency stem from estrogen loss—but the good news? GSM is treatable, and low-dose vaginal estrogen is safe and effective.