*Content reviewed by HotPause Health Medical Advisor & Board-Certified OB/GYN Dr. Beverly Joyce
Urinary Incontinence In Menopause
Urinary Incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of urine, is a common yet often distressing symptom many women experience during and after menopause. It can significantly impact daily life, causing embarrassment and affecting physical and emotional well-being. Menopause expert and board-certified OB/GYN, Dr. Beverly Joyce explains why understanding how incontinence occurs and exploring management strategies can help mitigate its impact and improve quality of life during menopause.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress Incontinence: Stress incontinence occurs during physical activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. It is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles, which fail to support the bladder properly. This type of incontinence is common in women after childbirth and can worsen with menopause. The weakened muscles result in urine leakage when there is increased pressure from the abdomen.
- Urge Incontinence or Overactive Bladder: Urge incontinence is characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine. It is often linked to conditions like overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, or neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Triggers for this type of incontinence can include the sound of running water, sudden position changes, or even occurrences during sleep, making it a particularly disruptive condition. It is often called the “key in the lock” syndrome, as women tend to leak as they are arriving home and unlocking the door.
- Overflow Incontinence: Overflow incontinence involves frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn’t empty completely. This is common in individuals with a blocked urethra, often due to conditions like an enlarged prostate in men, or nerve damage from diabetes or spinal cord injuries. Symptoms of overflow incontinence include a weak urine stream, difficulty starting urination, frequent urination with little volume, and a persistent feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. It can also be associated with uterine prolapse if the urethra is functionally kinked.
- Functional Incontinence: Functional incontinence occurs when physical or mental impairments prevent timely access to a toilet. Examples include severe arthritis, which makes it difficult to unbutton pants quickly, or cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s disease, which make it hard to recognize the need to urinate. This type of incontinence is not directly related to the function of the urinary system but rather to other health conditions affecting mobility or cognition
- Mixed Incontinence: Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence, where symptoms of both types are present. It is common in older women and requires a tailored treatment approach that addresses both the physical activity-related leaks and the sudden, intense urges to urinate. Treatment often includes pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, and sometimes medications or surgery to manage the condition effectively.
- Transient Incontinence: Transient incontinence is temporary and caused by factors such as medication, acute illness, or urinary tract infections. It usually resolves once the underlying condition is treated, such as stopping a diuretic medication, recovering from an illness, or treating a UTI. Identifying the cause of transient incontinence is crucial to ensure proper and effective treatment, allowing for a return to normal urinary function.
Why Does Urinary Incontinence Happen in Menopause?
Incontinence during menopause is primarily linked to hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of the urinary tract and pelvic muscles. When estrogen levels drop, several changes occur that can lead to incontinence:
- Weakening of Pelvic Floor Muscles: The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and help control urination. With reduced estrogen, these muscles can weaken, making it harder to control bladder function.
- Thinning of Urethral and Bladder Tissues: Estrogen helps keep the tissues of the urethra and bladder elastic and strong. Lower estrogen levels can cause these tissues to become thinner and less resilient, increasing the risk of leakage.
- Bladder Control Issues: Hormonal changes can affect the signals between the brain and the bladder, leading to problems with bladder control. This can result in urgency (a sudden, intense need to urinate) or frequency (the need to urinate more often).
What Can You Do About Urinary Incontinence in Menopause?
Managing incontinence during menopause involves a combination of lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, medical treatments, and sometimes surgical options. Here are some strategies to consider:
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Also known as Kegel exercises, these help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, providing better support for the bladder. Regular practice can significantly reduce incontinence episodes. A trained pelvic floor physical therapist can help teach you how best to perform these exercises. There are also several products designed to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. Some may be covered by insurance.
- Bladder Training: This involves learning to control the urge to urinate and gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits. Bladder training can help improve bladder control over time. Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation is a newer modality to treat overactive bladder.
- Lifestyle Changes: Certain habits can exacerbate incontinence. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking can help manage symptoms.
- Increased Bowel Movement Regularity & Reduce Constipation: Constipation can cause symptoms of urinary incontinence, specifically overactive bladder/urge incontinence, urinary retention, and overflow incontinence. When you have large amounts of stool in the colon it can put pressure on the bladder which can cause the bladder to not fill as much as it should, or cause the bladder to contract when the bladder is not supposed to contract.
- Vaginal Estrogen Therapy: Vaginal estrogen therapy, such as creams or rings, can help with urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. [1] Estrogen replacement therapy (HRT) can restore hormonal balance and improve urinary tract health by supplementing the body with estrogen it no longer produces. A recent 2023 study showed that estrogen significantly reduces symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. [2]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): In some cases, HRT can help alleviate incontinence by replenishing estrogen levels. This should be discussed with a healthcare professional to weigh the benefits and risks.
- Medications: Some medications can help manage incontinence by relaxing the bladder or improving muscle tone. Speak to your healthcare provider about options that might be suitable for you.
- Support products: Both over-the-counter support products (like Impressa and Revive) and provider-fitted vaginal pessaries can support the bladder and urethra to improve stress incontinence. A tampon worn during exercise can also be effective.
- Absorbent Products: Pads and underwear designed for incontinence can provide comfort and confidence by preventing leaks from affecting your daily activities.
- Surgical Options: For severe cases of incontinence that do not respond to other treatments, surgical options may be considered. Urethral suspension procedures like a vaginal sling or a laparoscopic Burch can provide long-term relief by supporting the urethra.
References:
- Thomas-White K, Taege S, Limeira R, Brincat C, Joyce C, Hilt EE, Mac-Daniel L, Radek KA, Brubaker L, Mueller ER, Wolfe AJ. Vaginal estrogen therapy is associated with increased Lactobacillus in the urine of postmenopausal women with overactive bladder symptoms. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Nov;223(5):727.e1-727.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.08.006. Epub 2020 Aug 11. PMID: 32791124; PMCID: PMC7609597.
- Te West NID, Harris K, Jeffrey S, de Nie I, Parkin K, Roovers JP, Moore KH. The effect of 12 weeks of estriol cream on stress urinary incontinence post-menopause: A prospective multinational observational study. Neurourol Urodyn. 2023 Apr;42(4):799-806. doi: 10.1002/nau.25165. Epub 2023 Feb 25. PMID: 36840920.
The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.
