It’s estimated that a whopping 6,000 women reach menopause each day in the US. Menopause happens to every woman and is the shift in hormonal changes that result in the cessation of menstruation.
While many women know about the common symptoms of menopause (Hot flashes! Insomnia!), there are certain changes that come about in menopause that are often surprising to women. One of these is the loss of bladder or bowel control.
A number of things occur during menopause that can contribute to you suddenly experiencing a bit of leakage
Weakening Of Pelvic Floor Muscles
Your pelvic floor muscles play a huge role in controlling your bladder and bowel. As the muscles weaken, it can lead to more urgent needs to use the restroom and more leaks. Weakened muscles can also lead to an increased risk for pelvic organ prolapse.
A Less Elastic Bladder
Changes that occur during menopause can cause the bladder to lose it’s elasticity and the ability to stretch. This can cause increased irritation in the bladder when it fills with urine, and can impact the nerves that regulate bladder function, which can sometimes cause overactive bladder (OAB).
Vaginal Dryness
During and after menopause, the body produces much less estrogen, which results in an increase of vaginal dryness. This dryness has a number of consequences, which can include an increase in the amount of urinary tract infections.
Anal Trauma
While anal trauma is usually the result of childbirth, many women may not see the results of it until menopause, when that, combined with a weakened pelvic floor can increase the risk of fecal incontinence.
It’s important to know that while these changes can lead to bladder or bowel leakage, the symptoms can also be avoided or eliminated by taking proper care of the pelvic floor. It’s never too late to start strengthening things up.
Here are some ways to increase the strength of your pelvic floor as you go through this period
Get Active
As simple as it sounds, simply staying active is great to keep your weight, and overall health in check. Gentle exercises, like walking, that don’t place too much pressure on the pelvic floor are best.
Try Squats
Squats are a great way to build up your glute and core muscles. To perform one, stand with feet shoulder with apart. Keeping your knees over your feet (don’t let them move past your toes), lower your bottom down as if you are sitting in a chair, being careful not to lean too far forward. Raise back up to starting position. Aim for 10 reps per day. (Note, if these feel too difficult for you, try wall squats, which use the same movement, but are performed with your back to the wall for extra support.)
Kegel
When done correctly, kegels can do wonders for helping women with incontinence. They help strengthen the muscles that prevent bladder leakage and also help to avoid or reduce the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. Remember that when performing a kegal, learning how to relax the pelvic floor is just as important as learning how to tighten it. In some cases, women have pelvic floors that are too tight and cannot relax, and if this is the case, kegels can end up aggravating your condition. If you’re concerned about your pelvic floor, or just can’t get the hang of how to do a kegel, visit a pelvic floor physical therapist for help.
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