Genitourinary Changes with Aging.

Both chronologic aging and menopause affect the physical, physiologic, and microbiological characteristics of the genitourinary tract. The genitourinary syndrome of menopause, characterized by vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract signs and symptoms, is prevalent and has a significant negative impact on women's lives. In this article, the authors detail the genitourinary tract changes associated with menopause and/or aging. They also review the 2014 North American Menopause Society's definition of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause and present the epidemiology and impact of genitourinary aging in midlife and older women, namely, vulvovaginal, urinary, and sexual symptoms.