MidLife
Bladder health during menopause
Women going through menopause can experience a number of physical changes, some of which can contribute to irritation of the bladder or bladder control problems. Among these changes are:
- weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, which makes it difficult to prevent urine leaks caused by coughing, sneezing or lifting heavy objects
- thinning of the lining of the bladder and urethra, which can lead to more frequent trips to the bathroom (frequency) or unusually urgent needs to urinate (urgency)
- decreased responsiveness of the bladder and urethra to nerves and hormones, which can make it difficult to control the urge to urinate
These changes are present in all women going through menopause and are responsible for many of the bladder control problems and urine leaks that some middle-aged and older women experience. If you have had multiple pregnancies or difficulties with bladder control in the past, you are more likely to experience bladder control problems during or after menopause.
If you are having bladder control problems as you go through menopause, there are a number of treatments available to help. These therapies include prescription medicines and pelvic floor muscle exercises such as Kegels. Even if you think that your bladder control problems are due to menopausal changes, you should discuss them with your health care provider. A medical evaluation will determine if these changes are being caused by another condition, such as an infection, heart problems, medicines, or nerve damage due to diabetes or stroke.
It is important to take care of yourself and stay in control with sensible diet habits (limit your caffeine intake and eat plenty of fiber) and by retraining your bladder to hold more urine (for example, try to train yourself to only go to the bathroom once every three hours).
