REDUCING & ELIMINATING URINARY INCONTINENCE
Menopause and Urinary Incontinence—Is There A Connection

Menopause and Urinary Incontinence—Is There A Connection

Menopause can often mean a whole host of changes for most women going through it. These changes can be hot flashes, a little weight gain, occasional mood swings, or something slightly more frustrating, like bladder issues.

In fact, according to most statistics, over 50 percent of women going through menopause experience urinary incontinence. These statistics alone show the connection between the two. But regardless of how common it may be, bladder leakages and urinary incontinence are embarrassing and frustrating conditions to deal with for menopausal women.

Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Types of Urinary Incontinence During Menopause

There are mainly two types of urinary incontinence experienced during menopause, and they both have their own causes and symptoms.

The first is stress incontinence. This type of incontinence is caused by a weakened pelvic floor. This means that the slightest pressure from everyday activities like laughing or sneezing can stress the bladder and cause leaks.

Another type of incontinence menopausal women may experience is urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is caused by nerve or muscles damage within the bladder tissue. This makes the bladder muscles spasm involuntarily, creating the sudden and frequent urge to urinate.

In What Ways Does Menopause Effect Bladder Control?

While urinary incontinence can happen to both young and old, men and women, there are some unique ways menopause impacts bladder control in some women.

  • This may mean their pelvic floor muscles become weak at the onset of menopause and cause incontinence.
  • Their bladder may become less elastic, thus causing overactive bladder syndrome.
  • Vaginal dryness can also lead to incontinence for many women due to an increased risk of urinary tract infections.
  • Weight gain due to menopause can also create added pressure on the bladder.

What Does Menopausal Incontinence Feel Like?

Menopausal incontinence often has some distinct symptoms. These are the ones we suggest you look out for:

  • Passing urine frequently;
  • Urgent need to urinate;
  • Bladder leaks due to coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy weights;
  • Urinating more than once or twice during the night;
  • Frequent UTIs;
  • Constipation;
  • Frequent bladder leaks.

Who Can Help?

A lot of women believe that urinary incontinence experienced during menopause is natural and untreatable. But this is not entirely true.

Urinary incontinence is an inconvenient and aggravating condition at any age of life stage, and you can always get help for it.

Dr. Shelia Whiteman is one of the best pelvic health therapists and has helped hundreds of women with bladder leakage solutions.

Get in touch with her; she might be able to help you out with her health coaching.

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