Menopause announces its presence through a sizable list of hormonal and possible physical changes for a woman.

“This time of transition can lead to incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, as well as vaginal dryness, irregular bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes and slowed metabolism,” says McLeod Gynecologist Melissa Brooks. “The good news is that many of these issues will improve with treatment. The most frequent complaints involve a drop in estrogen. A number of treatments, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), can help control these symptoms.”

Stress incontinence — the loss of urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing or during physical activity – is the second most common complaint. Your pelvic muscles hold the urine in the bladder, much like using two fingers to pinch a balloon with to keep the air in. If your pelvic muscles that control the bladder opening weaken, urine can leak out.

Before you see a Gynecologist about your problem, keep a bladder diary for a week or so. Meanwhile, there are a number of actions you can take to reduce the problem of stress incontinence:

• Eat a well-balanced diet. Make sure you include plenty of fiber to aid digestion and avoid constipation. Straining for a bowel movement can further weaken pelvic muscles.
• Watch what you drink. Caffeine (in coffee and sodas) and alcohol cannot only increase the amount of urine your body produces but also irritate the bladder.
• Keep an eye on your weight. Excess weight and obesity can worsen the incontinence.
• Exercise to help lose weight. Make Kegels are of your workout routine. This simple exercise can help you regain control of your muscles, improving your symptoms.

Another issue menopause age women face is Pelvic Organ Prolapse.  The muscles fail to support the bladder or uterus, which fall into the area where the vagina is located. In addition to menopause, other conditions that can cause or worsen prolapse include multiple births, large babies, obesity, high impact activities and frequent heavy lifting.

As in the case of stress incontinence, Kegels exercise can help. Devices called Pessaries can also be used to hold the organs in place.

Occasionally, with both stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse there are surgical treatments (many of then outpatient procedures) that can result in a major improvement in your condition.

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE

See a Gynecologist, who can perform a few simple in-office tests to determine the extent of your hormonal, incontinence or prolapse problem. Together you can discuss the risks, side effects and most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Find a Gynecologist near you.