Uncomfortable symptoms and menopause are known to go hand in hand. One symptom often credited to menopause is incontinence. Howevermenopause may not have much – if anything – to do with a person’s incontinence.
If you’ve started to release urine unexpectedly and for no apparent reason you may have either urge incontinence or an overactive bladder. If urine leaks when you laughsneezecough or any other action that causes internal strain around the abdominal areathen you may have stress incontinence.
Urine leaks are often seen as symptomatic of menopausegenetic make-up and a person’s age are often more accurate indicators of whether a woman will develop urinary incontinence. Being overweight and childbirth (particularly from vaginal deliveries) may be more decisive factors that increase the risk. Mark Walters MD comments that: “Menopause may just aggravate a situation that would have started anywaybut it isn’t the root cause”. Walters – who is head of urogynecology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation – strongly advocates having a physical exam conducted by a doctor and preparing a (if you like) “bladder diary” in the week leading up to your appointment – noting the time and amounts you urinate in that time.
The only way to be sure of the extent to which menopause is causing urine leaks is to make this consultation. Although many are hesitantthe reality is that doctors train to understand and deal with incontinence in women and can determine the appropriate treatment – which ismore often than notharmless and straightforward internal exercises (known as kegal exercises) and following simple guidelines such as avoiding alcohol consumption.
Uncomfortable symptoms and menopause are known to go hand in hand. One symptom often credited to menopause is incontinence. Howevermenopause may not have much – if anything – to do with a person’s incontinence.
If you’ve started to release urine unexpectedly and for no apparent reason you may have either urge incontinence or an overactive bladder. If urine leaks when you laughsneezecough or any other action that causes internal strain around the abdominal areathen you may have stress incontinence.
Urine leaks are often seen as symptomatic of menopausegenetic make-up and a person’s age are often more accurate indicators of whether a woman will develop urinary incontinence. Being overweight and childbirth (particularly from vaginal deliveries) may be more decisive factors that increase the risk. Mark Walters MD comments that: “Menopause may just aggravate a situation that would have started anywaybut it isn’t the root cause”. Walters – who is head of urogynecology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation – strongly advocates having a physical exam conducted by a doctor and preparing a (if you like) “bladder diary” in the week leading up to your appointment – noting the time and amounts you urinate in that time.
The only way to be sure of the extent to which menopause is causing urine leaks is to make this consultation. Although many are hesitantthe reality is that doctors train to understand and deal with incontinence in women and can determine the appropriate treatment – which ismore often than notharmless and straightforward internal exercises (known as kegal exercises) and following simple guidelines such as avoiding alcohol consumption.