Bladder Problems Caused by Menopause

Although many women associate menopause with hot flashes and decreased sexual desire, few are aware of the fact that the change of life can also cause potential bladder problems. Understanding the bladder problems that menopause can cause may help you prevent these painful side effects.

Urinary Tract Infections

• Accompanied by symptoms such as burning during urination, bloody or foul-smelling urine and a persistent need to urinate, urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur more frequently in women during menopause.

Incontinence

• An inability to completely control your bladder, urinary incontinence often arises in women experiencing menopause as a result of weakened pelvic muscles.

Causes

• During menopause, your body's decreasing levels of estrogen (a female hormone) thins the lining of your urinary tract, which lowers its ability to resist bacteria, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Decreased estrogen production also leads to weakened pelvic muscles.

Treatment

• Although your doctor must diagnose and treat urinary tract infections (usually with an antibiotic), you can often use pelvic muscle exercises to reduce the instances of urinary incontinence that you experience.

Prevention/Solution

• Key steps you should take to prevent bladder problems during menopause include drinking plenty of water and wiping from front to back after using the bathroom. Utilizing pelvic muscle exercises before you start experiencing incontinence will typically reduce your chances of developing this problem.