Vaginal Health for Post-Menopausal Women, Part 2
Loss of Estrogen with menopause can lead to urinary incontinence and bladder symptoms. The two most common types of urinary incontinence are Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), and Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI).
Atrophy itself doesn’t directly lead to incontinence, but atrophy does increase the likelihood of development and both types of leakage are more symptomatic in the woman with atrophy. Other contributing factors to incontinence include: birth trauma, previous surgery such as hysterectomy, radiation, obesity, repetitive straining (constipation, heavy exercise), medication use, and age.
Review of the medical literature has shown that Estrogen replacement (topical preferred), is beneficial in treating atrophy, particularly symptoms of dryness, itching, burning, pain with intercourse, recurrent UTIs, and urinary urgency and frequency.
The usual dose is 1 gm inserted into the vagina at bedtime between 2-3 times per week. Usually there is a run-in period for 1-2 weeks when first beginning when it is inserted every night or every other night. Of course, any history of breast cancer, cervical or endometrial cancer is clearly contraindicated.
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