Are you experiencing:
Urinary urgency?
Urinary leakage?
Increased night-time voiding?
50% of post-menopausal women have urinary symptoms, specifically incontinence.
During peri-menopause and menopause, there is a drop in estrogen. The genitourinary tract, bladder, and urethra contain tons of estrogen receptors.
A drop in estrogen affects urethral function in several ways:
Increased bladder sensitivity. Your bladder is more sensitive, which can contribute to urinary urgency. You may notice that when you feel the urge to pee, you have to run to the bathroom otherwise you won't make it and leak. A decline in estrogen causes a change in the mucosal lining of the bladder.
Decreased urethral closure pressure. Estrogen makes sure that the urethral walls stay closed so that urine does not leak out. This is a passive closure mechanism.
Decreased collagen and elastin in the urethra and bladder. This means less support for the bladder and urethra, which can result in incontinence.
Struggling with urinary incontinence, urgency, and/or nocturia is MORE than just a pelvic floor muscle weakness or coordination issue. There are structural changes in the bladder and urethra related to hormonal depletion that result in urinary symptoms.
If you are struggling with urinary symptoms, pelvic floor physical therapy can help! One of the best treatments to improve urinary symptoms is pelvic floor muscle training. This goes beyond Kegels. This focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor and the pelvic floor's best friends!
Interested in learning more? Click below to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn how about how I can help you!
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