Urinary System Changes

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence (UI), or bladder leakage, is the involuntary loss of urine. Urinary incontinence can occur during perimenopause and postmenopause when the muscles that keep the urethra closed weaken due to decreasing estrogen. Note that this can happen at other life stages due to lack of exercise resulting in muscle atrophy. Urinary incontinence may also be associated with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

There are several types of urinary incontinence:

Stress incontinence:

The involuntary loss of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping or lifting heavy objects. Stress UI can also occur when the pelvic floor is weakened, damaged or as a complication of obesity.

Urge incontinence:

When muscles in the bladder’s wall don’t work properly, there is an urgent need to urinate that cannot be controlled in time to make it to the toilet. Urge UI has multiple potential causes, ranging from diminished estrogen during perimenopause, an infection, diabetes, or as a complication of obesity.

Overflow incontinence:

When your bladder doesn’t fully empty when you urinate, you may experience frequent or even constant dribbles of urine. Be sure to give yourself enough time on the toilet to fully clear your bladder each time.

Women may be reluctant to speak up and act on UI issues due to embarrassment and/or negative feelings about aging. However, these conditions can usually be treated at home, or with the help of a trusted medical practitioner.

Therapies for urinary incontinence

Therapy for UI will vary depending on the type and the severity of the incontinence you are experiencing. It will also depend on risk factors you have, such as obesity, in addition to experiencing the menopausal transition. 

It is important to find a reliable, educated primary care provider familiar with recognizing and treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. The North American Menopause Society provides a list of menopause practitioners here.  A trusting relationship with your healthcare provider will help the potential embarrassment you may feel admitting to UI. 

Behavioural changes to help UI:

• Bladder training works by consciously delaying urination once you have the urge to pee. The length of the delay will increase progressively, giving you more confidence about holding your bladder till you can reach the toilet. Scheduling trips to the bathroom can also be helpful – set a timer and urinate every few hours rather than waiting for the urge. 
• Practice ‘double voiding’ to make sure your bladder is completely empty: wait a few minutes once you’ve finished peeing and then try again, to make sure all the urine is out.

Exercise to help UI:

• Kegels or pelvic floor exercises will strengthen them and help control incontinence, especially stress incontinence. You may ask for a referral to a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic floor training. 

Medications to help UI:

• Menopausal transition UI can be treated with topical estrogen, but will need to be tailored to the type of incontinence you are experiencing. 

Medical devices to help UI:

• A urethral insert can be placed into the urethra before an activity (such as exercise) to essentially serve as a plug, like a tampon, and prevent leakage. 
• A flexible silicone ring called a Pessary can be inserted into the vagina for the day to help support the urethra and prevent leakage.

If none of these therapies work for you, there are several surgical techniques that will resolve incontinence. Speak to your healthcare provider to see if any would be applicable to you.