Genitourinary symptoms of menopause caused by declining levels of oestrogen, are common but may be one of the symptoms we don’t discuss so freely amongst our friends.
This term encompasses the pelvic floor (including bowel symptoms), external genitalia, vagina, bladder and urethra.
Symptoms can include:
???? Incontinence
???? Dryness and itching
???? Painful sex
???? Urinary infections
In my conversation with Tanya from Physiotherapy and Pilates we discuss how can a physio help you during perimenopause & menopause, along with answering the questions you sent in.
If you prefer to watch our conversation you pop over to my Instagram page.
Tanya is a highly qualified and experienced Physiotherapist with a special interest in women’s health. She is also a qualified acupuncturist and Pilates instructor, which enables her to provide a holistic approach to her treatment with clients.
Below you will find a summary of our discussion and if you scroll right to the bottom of the page you’ll find a 10% discount, giving you 10% off any women’s health physiotherapy appointment booked during June and July.
How do I know if I have a weak pelvic floor?
A weak pelvic floor isn’t something you would be aware of yourself, but would be diagnosed by a specialist. You may have pelvic floor dysfunction which means your pelvic floor could be tight or weak, but this would be discussed in consultation and based on your symptoms. Things a physio would be looking out for include urinary or faecal incontinence, leaking on coughing or sneezing, any pain or discomfort or vaginal dryness amongst other considerations.
Can I still exercise if I have a prolapse?
Absolutely, yes! Tanya’s advice is to never think you can’t exercise, as there is always a safe route. There are different types of prolapse and you may need some advice depending on the type you have.
Prolapse is very common in women who have had a vaginal delivery. Studies suggest between 50 – 70%
Many women will not be aware that they have one, but you can always seek support if you are concerned from a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. You can self refer on the NHS for input without having to go to your GP or visit a practitioner privately. Having previously worked in a senior role within the NHS, Tanya is now happy to be working privately as this enables her to be more hands on and have more time during consults. This in turn enables her clients to have more control over how frequently they receive support and for some it means they need less appointments as they get the support they need at the right time.
How do I stop myself waking at night for the toilet?
Tanya explained that there are many factors with this issue. How well are you sleeping? We are always getting signals from our bladder and most of the time we ignore because we are busy going about our day. If you are restless at night you may just be more conscious of these signals and then decide to get up just in case.
it’s considered normal to get up twice during the night to go for a wee
You could have other conditions that need looking at. If you get swollen legs when you lie down that fluid needs to be processed and that extra fluid goes to the bladder. To help with this you could simply raise your feet in the evening whilst watching television. This will give your body a chance to deal with the excess fluid before going to bed. If this is something that is happening regularly you should get it checked out by your GP.
Do you pop to the loo ‘just in case’? You may be deskilling your bladder. Your bladder can easily hold around 500ml of fluid but using the toilet frequently can result in your bladder shrinking.
Ideally leave at least two hours between going to the toilet
From a nutrition perspective, I would be looking at how much you a drinking and what. Caffeine and alcohol consumption can have a considerable impact. When and what you eat can have a huge impact on how well you sleep. Always wake about 2am? This could be a blood sugar drop waking you and changing what you eat before bed can really help with this.
Is weeing at night a sign of prolapse?
Using the toilet at night is not a sign of prolapse. Getting up is more common though during perimenopause & menopause due to declining oestrogen having an impact on our tissues. If you are not taking Hormone Replacement Therapy, it would be worth giving this consideration as it can really help. Many studies are showing us that any risks far outweigh those of not taking it at all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this super informative conversation with Tanya. If you would like to find out more about her you can find her on Instagram or Facebook regularly posting useful tips and information. And don’t forget your 10% discount
“I will be offering 10% off any Women’s Health Physiotherapy appointment booked during June or July.
Are you experiencing any Pelvic floor symptoms,
Prolapse
Discomfort
Vaginal Dryness
Urinary leakage or urgency
Faecal urgency or leak
Difficulty opening you bowels
Constipation or loose stools
Pain with sex
Have you considered how you will look after your bone and muscle health during menopause?
Email me if you are not sure if your symptoms can be helped by a pelvic health Physiotherapist. I am always happy to chat and have been holding pelvic floor clinics along side the colorectal and gynaecological consultants for many years.
I know that these can be difficult conversations but my clients always feel so much better once they have chatted through any concerns.”