As if vaginal dryness wasn’t enough, the impacts of menopausal hormone changes can often quickly extend to bladder function.
This can result in more frequent UTIs (urinary tract infections), even for those who never had them before. The memory of a 2:00 AM UTI never fades, and “pelvic floor dysfunction” takes on a whole new meaning.
Notable Quotes
Bladder pain has been a challenge for me.
Monica
I used to love sex, and now…not so much…because of all the planning and pain and fear of getting a urinary infection.
Beth
I became more susceptible to UTIs in menopause.
Anon
More Information
Blog posts tagged as urinary tract changes:- Women’s Health: Representation & Research
- Menopause and the Pelvic Floor
- Breast Cancer Survivors: A Plan for Dealing with Vaginal Dryness
Additional Video Links: A lovely podcast discussion with Physiotherapist Phillipa Butler and her guest Cara Tatterton: “Pilates and Pelvic Floor Health.” Phillipa’s company Precizion is based in North Hykeham, a town in Lincolnshire, England, and provides a variety of online classes.
Resources:
- A straightforward guide to doing Kegel Exercises “the right way” to help with urinary leak and incontinence, from Harvard Health Publishing.
- Here is another version of Kegel Exercises from The Mayo Clinic.
- It is also reasonable to try Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy if needed for urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and some libido/sexual dysfunction concerns (but I’d suggest seeing a good Urologist first).
- A nice summary of a number of vaginal and urological tract changes common in the menopausal and postmenopausal time frame is How Menopause Affects a Woman’s Urinary Tract which also includes a quick review of overactive bladder, frequent urinary tract infections, and various types of incontinence.
- JAMA’s quick read “Dyspareunia in Women” (April 2022) is a very helpful summary of many contributors to painful sex and the genitourinary tract in general.
- A great book written by 3 physicians (March 2023): “A Woman’s Guide to Her Pelvic Floor: What the F*@# Is Going On Down There?”
Wild Card: A good website for incontinence products is SheThinx, with absorbent underwear like Speax. Another helpful product is Poise Impressa Bladder Support which is like a tampon that acts like an internal sling. More great products are at Knix. And Saalt underwear can be a life-saver.