Menopause
Menopause is the end of menstruation and fertility. It is a natural and inevitable process that all women go through. For most women in the U.S., menopause occurs during the early fifties.
When a woman goes through menopause, her ovaries stop producing progesterone and drastically reduce their production of estrogen. This change in hormonal balance can result in several different symptoms including hot flashes, weight gain , mood swings, trouble sleeping, and problems with bladder control.
The Basics of Bladder Control
The functions of the bladder are controlled through the coordination of the pelvic floor muscles and the bladder muscle. Most of the time, the bladder muscle is relaxed, thereby allowing the bladder to expand as it fills with urine. At this time, the bladder is supported by the contracting pelvic floor muscles. Once the bladder is full, it sends signals to the brain indicating that it is time to urinate. The pelvic floor muscles relax and the bladder muscle contracts, pushing the urine out.
How Can Menopause Lead to Bladder Control Problems?
In women, the lining of the vagina and the muscle tone of the bladder and urethra are maintained by the hormone estrogen. When estrogen levels decline during menopause, this can cause these tissues to thin out. This is referred to as urogenital atrophy. When these tissues thin out, it becomes harder to control the bladder, and many women develop stress incontinence.
Stress incontinence is a particular type of incontinence in which urine leaks out when physical activity, such as lifting, coughing, sneezing, or laughing, puts stress on the bladder. It is particularly troublesome when the bladder is full or close to it.
Lifestyle Changes That Can Help
Several lifestyle factors can contribute to urinary incontinence. Often, these are easy to change and can dramatically improve problems with bladder control.
When dealing with incontinence, it is important to try to limit weight. Extra weight puts more pressure on the bladder, often worsening problems with leakage. Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce this effect.
Physical exercise can also affect bladder control. The more fit a woman is, the less likely she is to have problems with incontinence.
The chronic cough caused by smoking can also stress the bladder. Smokers are at a much higher risk of developing stress incontinence. Stopping smoking can often reverse these problems.
Certain foods and beverages can contribute to incontinence. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, two common diuretics, can sometimes eliminate the problem entirely.
Treatments
For some women, these types of lifestyle changes are not enough. Fortunately, there are many different treatments available for women dealing with bladder control problems.
Kegel exercises (exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles) can help some women to train their muscles enough so that they are able to prevent leakage. There are also techniques for training the bladder to hold more liquid.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-incontinence
http://www.menopauserx.com/health_center/health_Incontinence.htm
http://www.yourmenopausetype.com/protocols/urinary.html
