We asked you on Twitter which symptom we should feature in our next ‘symptoms in the spotlight’ and as a result this week we are going to look at vaginal dryness and developing an overactive bladder as a result of menopause.
Vaginal Dryness:
No one really wants to talk about vaginal dryness, it can be quite embarrassing and leave us feeling very un-sexy. However, you are not alone, up to 50% of women suffer from vaginal dryness during menopause. Women typically experience an itchy burning sensation when urinating and also during intercourse. It can make sex very uncomfortable, to the point where you might not feel like having sex with your partner anymore. This can then impact your relationship and leave you feeling even worse.
Estrogen causes our vaginal tissue to produce a natural lubricant, but as we enter menopause the production of estrogen and progesterone decreases and eventually stops. This leaves the vaginal tissue unable to produce the lubricant and it therefore loses elasticity resulting in sensitivity around this area. Vaginal dryness also makes us more susceptible to infections such as thrush due to lower acidity caused by less natural lubrication.
Overactive Bladder:
An overactive bladder only adds to the frustration, it can interfere with daily tasks as you constantly need to be near the toilet. If you find yourself with regular sudden urges to urinate, if you are waking up continually through the night or even struggling to get to the toilet in time, you are probably suffering from an overactive bladder or urinary incontinence.
Estrogen maintains the strength of the pelvic tissues as well as the bladder tissues. The reduction of estrogen therefore causes these tissues to become weaker and less flexible, meaning you are not able to ‘hold it’ for quite as long. The lining of urethra also begins to thin which can lead to bladder control issues.
Some people suffer from an overactive bladder around this age, not due to menopause, but because of other factors such as injuries caused earlier on in life from childbirth, or due to age in itself.
These types of symptoms are often stressful to deal with due to the nature of them, and stress as we have mentioned before, can make other symptoms of menopause even worse. It’s therefore important to look after your mental health too by trying to reduce stress.
Solving the Problem:
We manufacture a device called LaBalance which has been proven to help reduce vaginal dryness, bladder infections, urinary incontinence and up to 21 other symptoms of menopause. It works by rebalancing the ANS (autonomic nervous system) which is set off balance as a result of menopause. We also recommend using a lubricant during intercourse if you are currently suffering from vaginal dryness and you are finding sex unpleasant.