There is one thing we all woman have in common, its motherhood, periods…and also menopause.  

Menopause is something that all women undergo, usually between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause happens when your levels of oestrogen and progesterone, the hormones that are responsible for your menstrual cycle and pregnancy, drop and is when your periods and fertility end. Experiencing these symptoms alongside female incontinence can be inconvenient, but in this article, we explore some effects menopause has on the body and how to live your best life while experiencing menopause bladder weakness. 

Heart Disease 

Oestrogen plays a key role in a woman’s heart health. It relaxes the blood vessels and maintains cholesterol balance¹. As oestrogen decreases during menopause, the blood vessels become more rigid and more prone to cholesterol build-up, thus contributing to an increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease in menopausal women.  

As prescribed oestrogen supplements can take up to six years to have an effect², potentially more effective methods of lessening these risks are eating a heart-healthy diet and engaging in 30 minutes of aerobic activity per day³. 

Osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become more fragile⁴. Osteoporosis decreases bone mass, which leaves those experiencing it at a greater risk of bone fracture. 

Women make up around 80% of individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis⁵. During menopause, due to a lack of oestrogen, bones lose cells faster than they can replace them. ⁶. As a result, the bones become weaker and more brittle.  

Thankfully, there are ways to lower your risk of osteoporosis during menopause, such as weight-bearing exercise, calcium supplements and osteoporosis medication.  

Bladder Weakness 

A weak bladder in women, also called female incontinence, affects between 8% and 27% of menopausal women and about 33% of older women overall^7,8. And while the cause of menopause bladder weakness isn’t clear, experts suggest that oestrogen is a key player⁹. 

Oestrogen receptors, which control the effects of oestrogen, are found throughout the body¹⁰. Some scientists think that oestrogen receptors in the urinary tract sustain women’s urinary health before menopause.¹¹ So weak bladder in females during menopause could be due to oestrogen loss. 

There are, nonetheless, measures that can be taken to improve the symptoms of menopause bladder weakness. Pelvic floor muscle training, urinating before sex and avoiding tight trousers have all been shown to alleviate urges and leaks.  

Nowadays, women with menopause often enjoy the same activities as when they were younger.  

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[1] “Menopause and your health.” Women’s Health, 21 september 2018. Bron: https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-and-your-health#2 

[2] S. Toh, S. Hernández-Díaz, R. Logan, J. E. Rossouw, &. M. A. Hernán. “Coronary Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Recipients of Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy: Does the Increased Risk Ever Disappear?: A Randomized Trial.” Annals of Internal Medicine, 16 februari 2010. Bron: https://annals.org/aim/article-abstract/745597/coronary-heart-disease-postmenopausal-recipients-estrogen-plus-progestin-therapy-does 

[3] “Menopause and Heart Disease.” Heart, geen datum. Bron: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/menopause-and-heart-disease 

[4] “What is Osteoporosis?” National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2017. Bron: https://www.iofbonehealth.org/what-is-osteoporosis 

[5] “Hormones and Healthy Bones.” National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2009. Bron: https://cdn.nof.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Hormones-and-Healthy-Bones-1.pdf 

[6] S. Ott. “Osteoporosis and Bone Physiology: Estrogen – Mechanisms of Action on Bone.” University of Washington Courses, 25 mei 2008. Bron: https://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/esteffects.html 

[7] J. Lazare. “No Gender Discrimination: Urinary Incontinence Affects Both Men and Women.” Aging Well, 2011. Bron: https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/fall2011_p14.shtml 

[8] G. Legendre, V. Ringa, A. Fauconnier, & X. Fritel. “Menopause, hormone treatment, and urinary incontinence at midlife.” Maturitas, januari 2013. Bron: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512212003386 

[9] L. E. Waetjen & P. L. Dwyer. “Estrogen therapy and urinary incontinence: what is the evidence and what do we tell our patients?” International Urogynecology Journal, oktober 2006. Bron: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-006-0080-3 

[10] E. Enmark & J. A. Gustafsson. “Oestrogen receptors – an overview.” Journal of Internal Medicine, augustus 1999. Bron: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10447781 

[11] “Urinary Incontinence.” Menopause.org, geen datum. Bron: https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/urinary-incontinence