The short answer
Vaginal dryness, pain with sex, urinary symptoms and lower desire are common in menopause and usually treatable. Low-dose vaginal estrogen, moisturizers, lubricants, ospemifene, DHEA and pelvic floor therapy all help. For women with military sexual trauma, care can be trauma-informed: you choose what to discuss, can ask for a female clinician, and no exam is required in a telehealth visit.
No advertising or analytics trackers run on Specialized Care pages. Reading them is never linked to your identity. Our privacy pledge
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)
Lower estrogen thins and dries vaginal and urinary tissues. That can cause dryness, burning, pain with sex, urgency and recurrent urinary infections.
Treatment options
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Moisturizers and lubricants | First step, no prescription |
| Low-dose vaginal estrogen | Restores tissue; very low absorption |
| Vaginal DHEA (Intrarosa) | Hormone insert for painful sex |
| Ospemifene (Osphena) | Daily pill for painful sex |
| Pelvic floor physical therapy | Helps pain, tightness and bladder symptoms |
Low desire
Desire is affected by sleep, mood, medicines (especially SSRIs), relationship factors, pain and hormones. Treating pain and dryness often helps first. Low-dose testosterone is sometimes considered for postmenopausal women with distressing low desire after a full evaluation.
Trauma-informed care after MST
- You do not need to disclose MST to get treatment
- You can request a female clinician
- Telehealth visits involve no physical exam
- You can pause, skip topics or end a visit at any time
- VA offers free MST-related care regardless of discharge status, and you can use both
Keep the care you already have
Kindr does not have to replace your existing care. If you use VA, TRICARE, an employer plan or another provider, you can keep those relationships while Kindr focuses on menopause. Bring your medicine list, including anything VA-prescribed, so nothing is duplicated or conflicts.
Independent from the VA and DoD
Kindr Health is an independent healthcare company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense. VA and military health care benefits vary by individual. VA benefits do not pay for Kindr visits.
Specialized care pathway
Care that takes your history into account
A private preparation tool builds a summary for a licensed Kindr clinician. Your answers stay in your browser and are not saved or sent.
Questions, answered
Common questions
Is vaginal estrogen safe?
+
For most women, yes. Absorption is very low, and it is often used even when systemic hormones are avoided, after discussion with your clinician.
Do I need a pelvic exam?
+
Not for a telehealth visit. If an exam is ever needed, it is arranged separately and on your terms.
Can antidepressants lower libido?
+
Yes, SSRIs and SNRIs commonly do. Your clinician can discuss options without stopping mental health treatment on your own.
WRITTEN & MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Kindr Health Clinical Team
Kindr Health Inc. — Editorial & Clinical Team, led by Kevin Wolfe, CMO
Kindr’s clinical content is written and reviewed by board-certified clinicians who prescribe hormone therapy every day across all 50 states — menopause-focused physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists working under Kindr Health, Inc.’s organizational clinical oversight. Every page is checked against current NAMS and ACOG guidance, FDA labeling, and the primary literature before publication, then re-reviewed on a rolling schedule when guidance changes.
Organizational NPI 1609792902 · Last reviewed October 5, 2026 · Editorial policy
Educational content only — not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
SOURCES & REFERENCES
Every clinical claim on this page is sourced.
- The 2020 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Position Statement (2020) — The Menopause Society. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=2020+genitourinary+syndrome+of+menopause+position+statement
- Military Sexual Trauma — VA National Center for PTSD. www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/types/sexual_trauma_military.asp
- VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Menopause (2026) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. www.healthquality.va.gov
- The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (2022) — The Menopause Society. www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf