Menopause

Menopause is a normal occurrence in a woman's life;
Urinary Stress Incontinence should not be!

Urinary stress incontinence caused by pelvic floor weakness is common in women entering menopause. However, many of them believe that there is nothing they can do about it and feel too embarrassed to address the problem with their physician.

During the menopause stages, a decrease in estrogen levels occurs, resulting in a reduction in collagen, a component of supporting structures. Consequently, pelvic muscles, ligaments and tissues progressively become less elastic, elongated and weaker.  These changes lead to a weakened pelvic floor and a loss of bladder control.  Therefore, it is common for women to experience urinary stress incontinence, i.e. a sudden loss of urine during physical exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting. The weakened pelvic floor muscles are unable to tighten enough to prevent leaking when such sudden pressure is put on the abdomen.

Too many women are still unaware of available treatments. Conservative, non surgical approaches aimed at restrengthening the pelvic floor muscles are generally recommended as a first step to overcome urinary stress incontinence and regain control of the bladder.

Read the National Post Supplement on Women's Health

Menopauseandu: Video Presentations from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

Last Update: Feb. 17, 2011