The Effects of Hormones on Menopausal Urine Incontinence

Menopausal urine incontinence is an unpleasant symptom, and those who suffer from it want, as would be expected, to resolve it as quickly as possible. The first step in this process is to gain a good understanding of the underlying cause of menopausal symptoms, which is hormone imbalance. Read on to learn more about how hormones affect menopausal urine incontinence so you can begin to work on solutions.

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Direct Effects

Hormones affect much more than reproductive processes; changes in hormone levels can cause repercussions throughout the body on a chemical level.

Muscle Strength

Estrogen plays a vital role in many bodily functions, one of which includes keeping muscles strong and healthy. When levels of the hormone dip during menopause, pelvic muscles weaken and menopausal urine incontinence can occur. This is why Kegel exercises are often prescribed to regain strength in this area and prevent the condition.

Systemic Function

Menopausal urinary incontinence can also result from infection, since estrogen contributes to the maintenance and health of the urinary tract lining. When levels are too low, this lining is more susceptible to bacterial infection, causing a recurrence of the problem. Rebalancing a hormonal deficiency is therefore very important to regaining normal functions.

Indirect Effects

Due to the myriad of roles hormones play in the body, unbalanced hormone levels can also have a domino effect, producing other symptoms that can create urine incontinence on their own.

Diabetes

Hormonal imbalance is known to cause much more than hot flashes and mood swings: another potential risk it poses it a tendency toward insulin resistance, which can then lead to diabetes. Nerve damage that comes from this disease can then cause not only menopausal urine incontinence, but possibly a chronic condition to be deal with throughout life.

Weight Gain

As women mature and go through the various stages of hormonal change, it is common to gain extra weight, even when no lifestyle alterations have been made. In addition to increasing the risk of heart disease and other problems, excess weight is troubling because it can press on the bladder, which can in turn cause menopausal urine incontinence.

Depression

Perhaps the most surprising cause of all, depression caused by estrogen deficiencies in the brain can also affect menopausal urine incontinence. Many medications that are meant to deal with depression have this condition as a side effect, creating a cycle of unhappiness, as self-consciousness can also arise from incontinence.

Hormonal imbalance is the underlying culprit of almost every menopausal symptom, so an understanding of the connection between the two is essential to finding an effective plan toward relief. Talk to your doctor today about lifestyle changes, natural herbal supplements, or even medication that can help you balance hormones in a safe and healthy way.