Bladder Leaks & Menopause
Menopause is a natural part of a woman's journey, and it brings a variety of challenges with it, sometimes including incontinence.
What Exactly Is...
Menopause is the permanent ending of ovarian function. In your late 30’s, the quantity and quality of your egg supply begin to decline, leading to significant changes in hormone production. Gradually your period becomes more irregular and will eventually transition into “menopause” - where your body transitions away from regular periods and your menstrual cycle ends.
Menopause is the permanent ending of ovarian function. In your late 30’s, the quantity and quality of your egg supply begin to decline, leading to significant changes in hormone production. Gradually your period becomes more irregular and will eventually transition into “menopause” - where your body transitions away from regular periods and your menstrual cycle ends.
The
Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 and unfolds in three stages. The transition spans between 2 – 8 years before reaching menopause. Throughout this process, the ovaries produce too much or too little estrogen and/or progesterone, with progesterone likely to fluctuate more than ever, leading to erratic and heavy bleeding.
The 3 Stages Of Transition Include:
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Peri-menopause - the time leading up to menopause.
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Menopause - 12 consecutive months without menstruation.
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Post menopause - the time after menopause where estrogen levels remain low, and you no longer experience a period.
What Are The
During peri-menopause, some mature eggs remain in the ovaries, leading to irregular ovulation and menstruation. This irregularity triggers fluctuations in the production of crucial female hormones (estrogen and progesterone), which persists until a gradual decline to very low levels. Subsequently, in menopause and post-menopause, the ovaries stop making these hormones resulting in the end of periods.
Peri-menopause is the stage where a woman experiences most symptoms.
The symptoms can include:
The symptoms can include:
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Irregular periods.
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Hot flashes and sweating.
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Sleep disturbance.
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Changes to mood and sex drive.
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Changes in weight.
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Vaginal and bladder problems - including incontinence.
More than 55% of post-menopausal women report experiencing incontinence. Because of the decrease in estrogen, the tissues that line the vagina and urethra become drier, thinner, and less elastic. This decrease in lubrication can lead to burning/itching, an increased risk of urinary tract infections, and it can weaken the bladder control muscles (the pelvic floor)- leading to bladder incontinence.
More than 55% of post-menopausal women report experiencing incontinence. Because of the decrease in estrogen, the tissues that line the vagina and urethra become drier, thinner, and less elastic. This decrease in lubrication can lead to burning/itching, an increased risk of urinary tract infections, and it can weaken the bladder control muscles (the pelvic floor)- leading to bladder incontinence.
If incontinence is a symptom you are experiencing during menopause, there are some things you can do to help manage the issue.
1. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises are known to strengthen the muscles around your vagina, urethra and anus. The beauty of exercising your pelvic floor is that you can do the exercises anywhere, anytime, no matter your age, sex, or fitness level.
Committing to daily pelvic floor exercises increases the likelihood of gaining better control over bladder issues and may even help reverse any challenges you've been facing.
Committing to daily pelvic floor exercises increases the likelihood of gaining better control over bladder issues and may even help reverse any challenges you've been facing.
For more in-depth information and a range of exercises, visit the Continence Foundation of Australia's website. They provide a wealth of resources and support, including access to continence nurses if additional assistance is needed
2. Changes In Daily Habits
It is important to maintain a healthy diet. If you are unsure as to what diet is best to follow for your needs, seeking advice from a registered dietician is a great jumping off point.
In general, we recommend avoiding ultra-processed foods and high sugar foods (take-away, frozen/ready-made meals, junk food etc.) as well as making sure you are controlling your caffeine intake.
In general, we recommend avoiding ultra-processed foods and high sugar foods (take-away, frozen/ready-made meals, junk food etc.) as well as making sure you are controlling your caffeine intake.
By making small changes to your everyday life, you will have a very good chance of managing your incontinence more easily or even be able to stop having incontinence altogether.
3. Investing In Reliable Products
During peri-menopause, our Cottons Pre-Menopause Pads can help manage your irregular cycle as they were designed for the erratic and heavy periods menopause brings. Featuring a 100% cotton cover sheet, they are chemical free, hypo-allergenic and ultra-absorbent.
If you're experiencing menopause and dealing with bladder leaks, we suggest trying our specially designed Comforts pads to help you feel more comfortable. Whether you're dealing with occasional leaks or need reliable protection for heavier flows, our pads provide an excellent solution tailored just for you.
Our team put careful thought into crafting the Comforts line using the finest 100% natural cotton, ensuring breath-ability, excellent absorbency, and skin-friendly qualities. We know comfort is paramount, which is why our pads are designed with comfort as our top priority.
Menopause is a natural phase that presents various challenges, including incontinence for some women. Our goal is to provide insights into the reasons behind incontinence during menopause and offer practical tips to support the management of these symptoms.
