Menopause And Health

You know the drill: Map out all the bathrooms along the route to your favorite destinations

. Because when you have to go, you have to go!

Its an urge you cant ignore. Incontinence, that is. Defined as the persistent involuntary leaking of urine, incontinence of one type or another is a condition that often pops up in womens livesregardless of their age.

It was the last straw for Glenda Hope, 57, from Rochester, N.Y., when she was afraid of attending her daughters wedding. I was so afraid of embarrassing myself and worse, my daughter, that I almost made myself ill with anxiety. Hope is typical of many postmenopausal women who have suffered in silence for years about their urinary incontinence. I had to do something though; all I could think of was one overemotional moment and that would be it. She couldnt employ her usual coping mechanisms. Id only go to venues where I knew the layout of the restrooms, and Id sit as near to them as possible. If I needed groceries or other supplies, Id always go to the same stores on the same route, where I knew there were restrooms I could use.

Urinary incontinence has many causes, including pregnancy and childbirth. But menopause and the natural effects of aging also play a role.

Whats the menopause link? Estrogen, possibly. Prior to menopause, estrogen helps increase blood flow to your urogenital tract (the vagina and the urethra), keeping muscles and tissue toned and flexible.

As estrogen levels decline at menopause, the linings of the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the vagina), the bladder and the vagina thin and weaken. Plus, as you age, the bladder muscle also weakens; the bladder simply cant hold as much it once did.

Three main types of urinary incontinence affect women:

Stress incontinence. This is when you leak urine during a cough, sneeze, laugh or physical activity.

Urge incontinence. This is when you feel the sudden and intense urge to urinate, even shortly after emptying your bladder.

Mixed incontinence. This is a combination of the two, affecting between 25 percent and 35 percent of those with incontinence.

Overall, about a third of women over 65 have some incontinence, with 12 percent having daily incontinence.

However, not all postmenopausal women experience incontinence, says G. Willy Davila, M.D., who heads the urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery section at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Fla. Even those who do, however, have numerous treatments options.

by: adultdiaper

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