As you get older, many changes take place in your life, and your body isn’t exempt. If anything, your body goes through a gauntlet of challenges. For women, the period of menopause is a time of significant physical and emotional change, as your body undergoes the ending of your monthly hormonal cycle and your reproductive time of life.
During menopause, which typically arrives in your 50s, symptoms related to the changes occurring in your body can leave you uncomfortable and stressed. One potentially stressful symptom of menopause is stress urinary incontinence. Dealing with risks of urinary leakage can be embarrassing, and can limit your activities and harm your quality of life.
It’s not easy to talk about stress urinary incontinence, and it can be difficult to reach out for support. However, you should know that board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and the team at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin can treat this condition, as well as other troublesome symptoms of menopause.
Dr. Bridges provides comprehensive menopause care from her locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas. How can Dr. Bridges address your urinary incontinence? Here’s what you need to know.
Women’s urinary and reproductive organs have a close relationship due to how your internal organs are positioned in your pelvis. That’s why reproductive changes like pregnancy and menopause can sometimes result in female urinary incontinence.
Stress incontinence is a type of bladder control issue that results in leaks when under physical stress. Coughing, laughing, and sneezing are common triggers for this type of urinary incontinence. This happens due to loss of muscle tone in your pelvic floor.
Menopause can trigger stress urinary incontinence in anyone. However, your risks are higher in some specific cases, including:
Your number of pregnancies and deliveries can also impact the strength and integrity of your pelvic floor muscles.
When you seek out Dr. Bridges for stress incontinence support, she starts your treatment with a thorough review of your health history, including your reproductive background. Then, she reviews your options for treating your condition, designed to address the problem at the source and get rid of bothersome and distressing symptoms.
Your treatment may focus on strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with physical therapy exercises. In some cases, you may need surgery to address physical issues with your organs. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also be helpful for you during menopause.
It’s essential to have a health partner you can trust in times of change like menopause. When you can open up to an experienced provider like Dr. Bridges, you benefit from her extensive knowledge and experience. You don’t have to get through menopause alone. Instead, reach out to Dr. Bridges for support and effective treatment.
Contact Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin online or over the phone today to schedule your initial consultation appointment.
