Sneezing and Leaking: The Hormonal Link

Stress incontinence is the most common cause of incontinence in women who are in the reproductive years or early postmenopausal years. It is defined as urine leakage due to abrupt increases in abdominal pressure caused by such things as exertion, sneezing, coughing, laughing, bending, or lifting.  Stress incontinence is often a result of childbirth or thinning of the estrogen dependent lining of the outer urethra.  Symptoms similar to having a urinary tract infection could be described with this condition even though a urine culture does not test positive for bacterial organisms. Patients who are overweight will often have more bouts with stress incontinence because of the amount of pressure above the urinary system and weight reduction is important in the wellness plan for urinary tract health.

Muscle strength training exercises.
Kegel exercises can have a role in improvement of incontinence. To perform kegel exercises, patients are instructed to specifically contract the pelvic muscles instead of the abdominal, thigh, or buttock muscles with a 10 second contraction followed by a 10 second relaxation method.  It is typically recommended as a repetition process of 10 to 15 times.  Although helpful, most people will forget to do the process or slack off after a certain period of time.  So just for good measure and since you're reading this blog, go ahead and do your Kegels today! (smile)

~Could hormones affect incontinence? Absolutely!!!
Interestingly, and unknown to many women, is that hormones can play a significant role in the urinary health of a female. A decrease in ovarian estrogen production can result in noticeable changes to the vaginal, urethral, and bladder tissue. This often presents as urinary frequency and urgency of urination.  In addition, it's estimated that 1 in 2 women will have an atrophy condition of the vaginal tissue with aging.  This can cause a burning sensation, difficulty and pain with sexual intercourse, and reoccurring urinary tract infections if not addressed.   If you are suffering with any of these problems, then make sure to have your hormone levels checked.  Treatment with a low dose hormone replacement therapy can have a great impact on symptom improvement and the health and integrity of the uro-gynecological tissues.

We provide at-home testing kits that can be used to evaluate your hormone status.  If you having been suffering with incontinence in silence, or if you are having other problems highlighted in this blog, then please reach out and let me help you get things back on track.  You'll be happy that you did and the simple, convenient, and affordable process might just save you some embarrassment with your next sneeze or cough.

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja