Menopause, Pelvic Floor and
Urinary Stress Incontinence

Ageing causes significant structural changes in a woman’s physiology. Ageing increases the likelihood of pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary stress incontinence. Fortunately, a growing number of women seek information and recommendations on ageing well, so they can make changes in their lives to optimize their health.

During the stages of menopause, estrogen levels decrease. This hormonal decrease causes a reduction in collagen, a component of muscles and tissue structures. Consequently, pelvic muscles, ligaments and tissues progressively become less elastic; they become elongated and weaker. These changes lead to a weakened pelvic floor and to decreased bladder control. As a result, it is common for women to experience urinary stress incontinence: a sudden leaking of urine during physical exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting. The weakened pelvic floor muscles are unable to tighten enough to prevent urine from leaking when sudden pressure is put on the abdomen.

Nutrition can play an important role in muscle function. Recently, pelvic floor disorders have been linked to vitamin D insufficiency. Because vitamin D receptors are present in human muscle tissue, vitamin D may have a direct effect on pelvic floor muscle function. Scientists are reporting that in women 20 years and older, and also in those who were 50 and older, higher vitamin D levels were associated with a decreased risk of any pelvic floor disorders.

Established conditions associated with pelvic floor disorders include being overweight, cigarette smoking, chronic medical diseases, such as asthma and diabetes mellitus, and constipation, previous gynecological surgery or family history and genetics.

Generally, pelvic floor weakness is due to a single cause in younger patients, but has multiple causes in older women. Causes and mechanisms of pelvic floor weakness in postmenopausal women commonly occur concurrently.

Many women live with bladder control problems for some time after entering menopause. They wrongly believe that it is a natural part of the ageing process and cannot be treated. If you are one of them, please do not hesitate to share your concern with your healthcare professional. They will assess your personal situation and recommend the best options for you.

For more information on pelvic floor reeducation:

• Kegel Exercises
• Pelvic Floor Reeducation with LadySystem® Vaginal Cones
• How to Use LadySystem® Vaginal Cones - Video Presentation