Discover common menopause pelvic floor symptoms, including pain and tightness, along with expert-approved tips for relieving discomfort.
After all, its helped you through a lot so far.
But thats not always the case.
Experts in This Article
owner and physical therapist atSt.
Yet many people dont bring up these issues to their doctor.
We do not talk about them often enough.
owner and physical therapist atSt. Louis Women’s Physical Therapy
Trust meI get it.
Im staring down menopause myself, and feeling slightly embarrassed to bring up changes Ive been going through.
So lets enter the no-embarrassment zone together, shall we?
What causes pelvic floor dysfunction during menopause?
There are several factors thatcause pelvic floor dysfunctionin menopausehormone changes being the foremost.
This can lead to irritation, infection, and ultimately, pelvic floor dysfunction.
Another contributing factor is muscle loss related to the aging process.
Basically, these muscles can become weak, tired, and saggy.
Physical damage like scarring can also lead to pelvic floor dysfunction.
owner and physical therapist atSt. Louis Women’s Physical Therapy
These conditions, or a combination of them, can increase your likelihood of pelvic floor dysfunction during menopause.
So, what really happens to your pelvic floor during menopause?
I also have to take a trip to the bathroom before going on a run.
And dont get me started about jumping up and down on a trampoline or dancing with my kiddo.
Without certain precautions, Ill likely leak.
Louis Womens Physical Therapy.
While this is common, its not necessarily normal.
How to help:Strengthening these muscles with exercises likeKegelscan help prevent urine leakage.
While this is common, its not necessarily normal.
How to help:Learning stretches to relax your pelvic floor can help with constipation.
This is called pelvic organ prolapse, per theUniversity of Colorado.
Its most always a symptom of poor support.
Your doctor can help you determine the best course of treatment for you.
Its a tight neighborhood in there, Samms says.
One thing is often likely to affect another.
It can be a vicious cycle, says Dr. Rispoli.
How to help:Managing any other symptoms should help reduce your chances of muscle spasm.
Learning relaxation techniques, likedeep breathingandstretching, can also help keep those muscles tension-free.
Ive had women have pelvic floor contractions just gettingneartheir partner because theyre anticipating pain with sex.
you might learn certain stretches and relaxation techniques in pelvic floor therapy.
Sure, those tried-and-true exercises helped me firm up after having my son, but they dont fixeverything.
This is especially true because during menopause, being loose down there isnt always the primary issue.
Kegels may do more harm than good if tightness is your concern.
This includes vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge, sharp or sudden pelvic pain, or prolonged constipation.
Asking your OB/GYN questions and learning more about your body is a good place to start.
I always encourage women to educate themselves, says Dr. Rispoli.
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