Let's get a Super Vagina...

Let’s start at the beginning.... this all starts around Menopause. Menopause is a major transition phase in a woman’s life where estrogen and progesterone hormone levels drop. Declining estrogen levels have a significant impact on skin structure - especially in the vagina. As if that’s not enough - loss of strength and tone in the vaginal muscles can result in both incontinence (urine leakage) and vaginal dryness. Women are twice more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence than men, and an estimated one in three women over the age of sixty are likely to have some degree of bladder control problems.

When Does Incontinence Start?

For many women, these issues start to occur with peri-menopause, although changes in weight and pelvic surgeries can also contribute to incontinence problems, as well as... you guessed it - childbirth. The pelvic floor is a collection of many small muscles woven together like a basket that supports the bladder and uterus. As women age, gain weight, have children, or have a hysterectomy, it is common for this “basket” to drop as a result of decreased muscle strength. When this happens, incontinence and decreased vaginal sensation may be an issue.

Understanding Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is a situation where urine leaks when your body puts pressure on your bladder. Imagine your bladder is like a balloon, and you squeeze it a bit. Normally, muscles and tissues around your bladder hold everything in place. But with stress incontinence, those muscles and tissues weaken.

Here's the breakdown:

• The Culprit: Weak pelvic floor muscles and tissues are often the reason for stress incontinence. These muscles support your bladder and urethra (the tube that carries urine out).
• The Trigger: When you cough, laugh, sneeze, exercise, or even just lift something heavy, it increases pressure in your abdomen. This pressure pushes down on your bladder, and if the muscles and tissues are weak, you might leak some urine.

Stress incontinence tends to increase with age and is a particularly common complaint in postmenopausal years.

What About PostPartum Peeing?

For many women, childbirth can really cause havoc to both the vulva and the vagina. But, why is this? Well, three reasons: vulva tearing, hormone changes, and internal muscle changes that can lead to pelvic organ prolapse (even mild prolapse can increase UTI's and Incontinence). In particular, weaker muscles in the pelvic floor and the sudden drop in estriol that occurs postpartum, can lead even the most kegel-obsessed mums' to wonder why they are peeing every time they sneeze. Adding in some low dose topical estrogen in the first half of your cycle, as well as using this great 'Vagina WOD' can help!

Three Steps to Solving Incontinence

1. Kegels. Kegel exercises for the pelvic floor can be done with or without vaginal weights and, when performed consistently, can help prevent and/or treat decreased vaginal tone and the issues that may accompany it, including incontinence – specifically stress incontinence. Our 'Vagina WOD' workout can also be a great addition to your movement routine!

2. While toning exercises can be very effective, estrogen is essential for maintaining the tone of the vaginal tissues and muscles. A recent article in the Journal of Women's Health* concluded that “very low-dose estradiol vaginal cream (0.003%) dosed twice weekly is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for vaginal symptoms and dryness associated with menopause”. Read more science here! An equally safe alternative is Estriol, which may be preferred as it is the least potent of the estrogens. Wondering where to get some? Try our bestselling Silky Peach Cream now!

3. Lifestyle changes - in particular, managing constipation. When you're constipated, a buildup of stool fills your rectum. This puts pressure on your bladder, which sits right behind it. This pressure can cause Urge incontinence: You might feel a sudden, strong need to urinate, even if your bladder isn't full, and Overflow incontinence: The pressure might make it harder for your bladder to completely empty. This can lead to leaking urine even when you don't feel the urge.