Tips for Managing Menopause from a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

​Are you experiencing perimenopause or menopause? Wondering what this means for your pelvic floor and pelvic health? Menopause is a pivotal phase in a woman’s life that comes with many changes, and it is not talked about enough. In the clinic we see women suffering from pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, and chronic pain whose symptoms have come up or worsened during this phase of life. If this sounds like you, in this blog we will touch on what menopause looks like and what to expect for your pelvic health. 

​Menopause has officially begun once you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. Ovulation stops occurring, and there is a sharp decline in estrogen and progesterone production. This comes with many physiological changes including decreased bone density, decreased lean muscle mass, and increased fat build-up around the waist. It is important to work with a trusted medical provider on strategies for staying active. This will help maintain bone density and lean muscle mass, as well as decrease your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

​Aside from these changes to body composition, common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include hot flashes, body aches and pains, night sweats, fatigue, anxiety/depression, sleep disturbances, low libido, and pelvic floor changes. 

What does menopause mean for your pelvic floor? 

A major decline in the hormone estrogen can lead to the following: 

• Decreased flexibility and integrity of pelvic floor muscles 

• Prolapse

• Vaginal dryness and thinning of tissues 

• Pain with intercourse

• Increased UTIs

• Increased constipation

• Incontinence – bladder and fecal, including the inability to control gas in some cases. 

Just because these symptoms are common during perimenopause and menopause, doesn’t mean they are normal. We tend to see these presentations more commonly in women with a history of pelvic floor weakness or injury. This is why it’s important to have good bladder and bowel habits and maintain strong pelvic floor muscles throughout the lifespan. 

If you find yourself suffering from any of the above, you are not alone, and there are many tools that can help you. We see women every day with these issues and help them address the contributing factors that are within their control. We may not be able to change the fact that hormones have naturally dropped off, but there is a lot we can do in terms of pelvic floor release work, strengthening, creating new bladder habits, and mind-muscle retraining to resolve your symptoms. We will do a thorough full-body assessment and approach the pelvis from every angle required in order to get you to your goal.

Reach out to us to learn more about how we can support you and your pelvic health through perimenopause and menopause.