Low Estrogen & Bladder Symptoms: Overactive Bladder In Menopause

Are you struggling with leaks or what feels like a million bathroom breaks in a day? Then you may be dealing with an overactive bladder (OAB).

Although this may sound scary, the truth is that it doesn't have to be. There are many women whose bodies react to menopause in this way, which means you aren't alone.

To give you a better understanding of this condition, let's have a look into the symptoms of (and easy treatments for) it.

Low Estrogen Bladder Symptoms

If you feel as though you may have an overactive bladder, knowing the common symptoms can help you better understand why you're feeling the way you do. Of course, simply knowing your symptoms doesn't replace the need for medical intervention. If you want relief, you need to book an appointment with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

 It’s also important to remember that many of the symptoms below can be present in conditions other than overactive bladder, so you always need to see a doctor when you have new bladder symptoms as they can help to pinpoint the true diagnosis.

A sudden need to pee

Potentially one of the most inconvenient menopause bladder symptoms related to OAB is the sudden (often really intense) urge to pee. And more often than not, you can't hold it, either. It may feel as though your bladder is constantly full but when you actually go to the loo, there isn't much that comes out.

More trips to the loo

Out of all the urinary symptoms related to OAB, taking constant bathroom breaks is one of the easiest ways to know that something just isn't right with your bladder. So, if you find yourself heading to the loo more than eight times a day, you may be dealing with an overactive bladder.

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence (also known as urgency incontinence) is when you leak urine involuntarily. This usually happens after you get the intense urge to pee and can be pretty distressing. In fact, it can cause a lot of unnecessary embarrassment and lead to anxiety about accidents in public.

Still, this is very common when you're dealing with overactive bladder symptoms. Luckily, there are treatment options out there to give you relief from this uncomfortable experience.

Nocturia

Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night to pee? When this happens, it can disrupt your sleep patterns and leave you feeling tired and sluggish the next day. Usually, when this happens one or more times (and it isn't the norm for you), it could be a sign of OAB.

Bladder pain

Some women experience discomfort in their bladder, while others experience bladder pain or painful urination. Generally, the discomfort only appears or gets worse when your bladder feels full. Although these bladder symptoms mimic a UTI, it may also be linked to OAB.  

Why Overactive Bladder Happens During Menopause

Overactive bladder (OAB) is an incredibly common condition where your bladder tends to behave pretty unpredictably. This can cause you to have a really sudden and urgent need to pee - as in right now. Of course, you're also likely to be peeing more frequently.

Since this urge is difficult to control, it can lead to urinary incontinence and involuntary leaks.  OAB can also lead to more frequent pee breaks during the day, and can even disrupt your sleep since you may need to wake up to run to the loo.

Hormonal changes

During menopause, your body naturally produces less estrogen. But this hormone plays a huge role in maintaining your bladder health. Additionally, lower estrogen levels can lead to the thinning of your bladder lining and the weakening of your pelvic floor muscles. When these symptoms combine, it can cause OAB.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)

Genitourinary tract symptoms caused by GSM include thinning of vaginal tissues, vaginal dryness (known as urogenital atrophy or vaginal atrophy) and lower urinary tract issues. In fact, these are the culprits behind needing to pee more often, more urgently, and not being able to hold your pee.

This causes OAB because of the loss of estrogen, which affects the collagen and elasticity that supports your bladder and urethra.

Ageing

Although overactive bladder can occur at any age, the ageing process is another factor that can cause changes in your bladder function. Typically, the bladder muscle can become overactive or unstable, which is what leads to the sudden and strong urge to pee. Your urethra also loses its ability to close as tightly as it could before. As a result, you may experience leaks.

Bladder Habits

A number of habits such as having “just-in-case” wees or not emptying your bladder fully can catch up with you around menopause. Other factors such as consuming bladder irritants such as coffee, alcohol and acidic foods like oranges or tomatoes can also contribute.

How Common Is Overactive Bladder In Menopausal Women?

OAB usually becomes more common in women before and after menopause. This is mainly because of the change in hormone levels - especially a drop in estrogen.

Usually, estrogen helps to maintain healthy tissue in your bladder and urethra. But as you approach menopause and your estrogen levels drop, these vaginal tissues can become much thinner, less elastic, and more prone to irritation.

Menopause or low estrogen bladder symptoms are nothing to be ashamed of, though, and it happens to more women than you'd think. The important thing to remember is that you're not alone, and with help from a doctor, you'll be on your way to a stronger, healthier bladder.

Overactive Bladder Treatment Options

There are several treatments available for OAB and these should be considered after you have been diagnosed by a doctor and other conditions have been excluded. But if you're experiencing leaks (for whatever reason), why not give yourself some instant peace of mind in the meantime with a pair of leak-proof pants? It can help to ease your anxiety until you're able to find the cause of - and treatment for - your leaks.

Natural supplements

If you want to regain control of your bladder, then you should try Jude's Bladder Care Supplements. The supplement formulation was shown to decrease up to 67% of leaks and reduce nightly pee breaks by 70% for some women.

Our supplements are natural and approved by doctors. They're also vegan and made with high-quality, non-GMO ingredients. So, you can have total peace of mind knowing you're only using the best supplements to restore your bladder health.

Bladder training

This is one of the most effective methods of improving overactive bladder. It is best done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. It involves trying to extend the time between your bathroom breaks to train your bladder to hold your pee. It often involves a personalised plan to help you achieve bladder control

Medications

Your doctor may be able to prescribe certain medications to help control your bladder symptoms. The type of medication and the dosage will largely depend on how severe your case of OAB is, though. Luckily, these medications are often effective and can provide you with relief from some of the uncomfortable symptoms you may be experiencing. However many of the medications can cause side effects such as dry mouth so it is important to discuss with your doctor and see if a medication like mirabegron which causes fewer side effects may be more suitable for you.

Medical procedures

In some cases, you may need Botox injections. Botox is injected directly into the bladder to help relax the muscles and give you better control over them. This can be really helpful when the muscles are overactive 

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

If you're going through menopause, HRT can help boost your estrogen levels. In turn, your bladder will be stronger and you can manage the symptoms of OAB.

FAQs

Can overactive bladder in menopause be prevented?

While there isn't a definitive way to prevent OAB in menopause, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk and manage your symptoms. These include:

Avoid bladder irritants: Things like spicy food, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and other foods and drinks can cause bladder irritation. This makes it more difficult to control how often you go to the loo. So, try to avoid these as much as possible.

Avoid certain bladder habits: Although you may sometimes need to have a just-in-case wee or sometimes need to hold off peeing when you really need to go, making this a regular habit can predispose you to having an overactive bladder as it disrupts the bladder-brain connection. Instead simply peeing when you really need to is the best method to prevent an overactive bladder

Practise pelvic floor exercises:  While a weak pelvic floor doesn’t cause an overactive bladder, it can lead to stress incontinence which is leaks when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise. As you can practise pelvic floor exercises, This will slowly strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help you with better bladder control.

How can I tell the difference between overactive bladder and urinary tract infections (UTIs) during menopause?

Differentiating between an OAB and a UTI can be tricky since they have similar urinary symptoms.

Usually, UTIs come with more painful and uncomfortable symptoms. Since it is a type of infection, you'll also experience symptoms associated with it. This includes fever, cloudy urine or blood in your urine. However you should always seek advice from your doctor for any new symptoms (or a change in symptoms) as UTIs often require prompt treatment.

Final Thoughts

If you're struggling with an overactive bladder, there's no need to feel ashamed of your symptoms. Instead, you need to shake off the stigma of your condition and seek treatment. It's really the only way to get relief from what you're experiencing.

And don't forget: You can use Jude's all-natural bladder supplements to relieve those nasty symptoms and achieve l peace of mind. 

References

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/low-estrogen-bladder-symptoms#summary

• https://www.mymenopausecentre.com/symptoms/bladder-symptoms/

• https://familymedicineaustin.com/low-estrogen-bladder-symptoms-in-menopausal-women/

• https://www.urologynews.uk.com/features/features/post/the-impact-of-menopause-on-bladder-symptoms

• https://hellobonafide.com/blogs/news/understanding-menopause-bladder-symptoms

Jude’s clinically proven supplements give you better bladder and pelvic floor control, helping you sleep through the night and regain the freedom to live life on your own terms. With just one capsule morning and night, you'll have relief from need-to-go urgency in just 12 weeks.