by Melanie Remy | Apr 20, 2022 | Menopause, Wellness
Menopause is a natural phase of life for women. However, it can come with many changes, including unwanted symptoms that affect daily life. If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, it’s important to understand that there are many ways our women’s health care providers can help, from providing treatments and suggesting lifestyle changes. Our team is also here to answer all your questions, so you are prepared and empowered over your own health. One common question you may have is whether menopause symptoms ever go away. The simple answer is yes. However, keep in mind that menopause is anything but simple. We’ll discuss how long menopause symptoms last, what factors affect symptom duration, and other complexities of menopause in this article.
Talk to our women’s health care providers about what to expect from menopause.
Ask Your Women’s Health Care About What to Expect During Menopause
One of your best resources during menopause is your women’s health care provider. Our team can answer your questions and help you understand what to expect during menopause. Every woman is different, but there are some common experiences many women have during menopause that we can discuss and strategize for based on your individual circumstances.
Understanding the Phases of Menopause
It’s important for women to understand the different phases of menopause. While many people use the term “menopause” as a catch all for symptoms and health conditions related to low hormone levels as we reach middle age, there are actually three distinct phases in the transition from pre-menopause to post-menopause. They are:
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
- Postmenopause
Perimenopause is the period leading up to your last period. During this time, hormones like estrogen and progesterone start to decline and fluctuate. With these changing hormone levels, you may experience several symptoms associated with menopause. You may also experience irregular periods because of changing hormone levels. This is the transition into menopause. On average, perimenopause starts at age 47 and lasts approximately 4 years before reaching the next phase. However, every woman is different, and some may have longer or shorter timelines for perimenopause. You can also start perimenopause earlier or later.
Menopause is the next phase in the transition. This is actually a point in time, rather than a time span like perimenopause. Menopause is when you reach the 12-month mark from your last period. Immediately after reaching this part of the phase, you are considered postmenopausal.
Postmenopause is the time that comes after you haven’t had a period for 12 months and lasts the rest of your life. During early postmenopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels may keep declining and some women continue to experience symptoms during postmenopause. However, typically symptoms do typically go away at some point during postmenopause.
Common Menopause Symptoms
Low estrogen and progesterone levels during the menopause transition can cause many different symptoms. In fact, an estimated 80% of women experience some menopause symptoms. Common symptoms you may experience include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes like anxiety and depression
- Insomnia
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Brain fog
- Weight gain
Many women will see symptoms during perimenopause in the three to five years or so before reaching the menopause stage. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, sometimes even interfering with day-to-day life. Each person is different, so you may experience different symptoms or different levels of severity compared to others. If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause, talk to our women’s health care providers about options for relief.
How Our Women’s Health Care Providers Help with Menopause Symptoms
The good news is, you don’t have to suffer with your menopause symptoms. There are many ways our women’s health care team can help you address your symptoms. For some women, simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in alleviating menopause symptoms. For example, eating a healthy diet, taking part in exercise, and reducing stress levels can all help with your symptoms.
However, in many cases you may need menopause treatment with hormones to relieve your symptoms. As symptoms are typically due to low and imbalanced hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy is a common treatment option that can reduce or eliminate your symptoms. We generally recommend taking the lowest dose of estrogen (and progesterone if you still have your uterus) that helps your symptoms. Our providers can help you determine if this treatment solution is right for you.
How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last?
If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, you might wonder if they ever go away. The good news is, menopause symptoms do typically fade away with time. While there is no straightforward answer for how long menopause symptoms last, there are studies that show the average duration to expect.
In the past, many women’s health care providers believed that symptoms like hot flashes usually disappeared within six to 24 months. However, more recent research suggests that the timeline for menopause symptoms is longer than this. One study from 2015 looked at how long vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) lasted for menopausal women. The researchers found that the average duration of hot flashes and night sweats was 7.4 years, with 4.5 of those years occurring during postmenopause after the last period. However, it’s important to note that some women have symptoms for a shorter amount of time and others a longer amount of time. For instance, some of the women in the 13 year follow up still had symptoms.
The researchers in the study recommended that doctors advise women to expect symptoms for about 7 years because that was the average amount of time for the women in the study. However, there are health and lifestyle factors that may affect how long you experience menopause symptoms.
Factors That Affect the Length of Menopause Symptoms
The 2015 study also found that certain factors were associated with longer timelines for menopause symptoms. For instance, they found that women whose symptoms started earlier, such as when they were premenopausal, tended to experience hot flashes for longer, with an average time of 11.8 years total and 9.4 years after their last period. By contrast, women who only experienced symptoms after their last period tended to only have them for an average of three and a half years. They also found that African American women tended to experience symptoms longer than white women.
Some other factors that seemed to be linked to having menopause symptoms for longer included being overweight, smoking, having high stress levels, and having anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Each woman has her own “schedule” for menopause and its symptoms. However, genetics also seems to play a role. Specifically, typically your menopause transition will look similar to your mother’s and grandmother’s for age and timeline. Therefore, there are many things that can affect how long you experience menopause symptoms. Our women’s health care providers can help you look at many different factors and make a plan for how to manage your symptoms now and in the future.
Discuss Strategies for Managing Menopause With Our Women’s Health Care Providers
Considering that menopause symptoms can last years, it’s helpful to discuss your symptoms with our health care providers. As we mentioned, there are many options for relieving your symptoms. Our team can create personalized treatment solutions based on your specific needs. We are your partners in improving your overall health and wellbeing, during every phase of life.
Quality Women’s Health Care for Menopause at HerKare
As a women’s health clinic owned and operated by women, we are here to empower you to live a healthier life. Our team at HerKare is here to help you create a roadmap for lifelong health. We offer a variety of women’s health care services, from birth control counseling to menopause treatments to help you feel your best at any age. Make an appointment today to discuss your symptoms and get quality, individualized care from our health care providers.
by Melanie Remy | Apr 6, 2022 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause
Menopause comes with many changes. Many women experience disruptive symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia. Another issue that people don’t seem to talk about as much is anxiety. Anxiety during menopause may be due to several factors, including hormone fluctuations during and after menopause. Because hormones can have such an impact on mood and anxiety, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help alleviate your symptoms. Let’s talk about menopause, anxiety, and HRT.
HRT Can Help Alleviate Menopause Symptoms
Say goodbye to menopause symptoms with HRT to balance your hormones.
Before we get into HRT for menopausal anxiety, let’s go over what HRT is and why you may need it during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy refers to medications that supplement your natural hormone levels. During menopause, women may have a regimen of estrogen and progesterone to help even out hormone levels. Many women also take testosterone replacement therapy.
The goal for HRT is to alleviate menopause symptoms, which are typically brought on by low and imbalanced hormone levels. During menopause, our bodies start to produce significantly less estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Levels may fluctuate leading up to our last period, sometimes being higher or lower than normal. After we reach our last period and enter post-menopause, our ovaries produce much less of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
These hormone changes can cause many symptoms, some of which you’re probably familiar with. They include symptoms like:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Insomnia
- Low sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
Low hormone levels after menopause can also increase the risk for many health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Our providers may prescribe HRT to help relieve your symptoms during menopause, particularly if you experience hot flashes, as hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments for menopausal hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms. However, HRT may also help with many other symptoms, such as mood changes, including depressive and anxiety symptoms.
The Link Between Menopause and Anxiety
Many women say they feel more anxious during menopause. In fact, an estimated 23% of women experience anxiety symptoms during menopause. Therefore, it’s no surprise you might be wondering if menopause can cause anxiety or whether there is a connection. Anxiety is a pretty complex condition, so there may be many factors at play. However, hormone and life changes may contribute to feeling anxious during menopause.
Some symptoms of anxiety include:
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Excessive worrying
- Restlessness
- Panic attacks
- Racing heart
- Sweating
- Chills
- Difficulty breathing
- Shaking
- Tingly or numb hands
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Every woman is different, but generally if you have past history of anxiety symptoms, your risk for experiencing anxiety-like symptoms in menopause may be higher. However, there does appear to be a connection between menopause and anxiety, as some studies show that menopausal women are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms and panic attacks compared to pre- or post-menopausal women of the same age.
Some factors that may explain the increased rates of anxiety during menopause include hormone levels and life changes that are common during this time.
Hormone Changes and Low Estrogen May Increase the Risk for Anxiety Symptoms
One reason you may experience anxiety during menopause is due to changing hormone levels. As we mentioned, hormones during menopause typically start to fluctuate, change, and decrease. Low estrogen levels during this time are likely responsible for many menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and mood changes. Many believe estrogen also plays a role in anxiety during menopause. Many women notice their anxiety symptoms get better after beginning HRT with estrogen for their menopause symptoms. In fact, one 2009 study in Gender Medicine journal looked at the relationship between estrogen and behavior linked with anxiety and depression. The researchers found that higher scores for anxiety and depression were associated with lower estrogen levels. Therefore, low estrogen and hormone imbalances during menopause may contribute to anxiety during this stage of life.
Other Reasons for Anxiety During Menopause
However, there may be other factors at play if you’re feeling anxious during menopause. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51, which is also an age where many of us experience other life changes as well.
For instance, many women become empty nesters at this time, which can change many family and relationship dynamics. You might be caring for aging parents and dealing with the stressors that come along with it. This is often also a time of high stress in many people’s careers. Some also go through a period where they are re-discovering themselves and may struggle with insecurity. Therefore, many life changes that often happen during the time of menopause can also contribute to mood changes and feelings of anxiety.
Can HRT Help with Anxiety During Menopause?
Since menopausal anxiety may have a hormonal component to it, you might wonder whether HRT can help relieve anxiety symptoms during menopause. Some studies do suggest that estrogen may have some anti-anxiety properties. Of course, you should talk to our providers to find personalized treatment options based on your specific circumstances. However, research from Harvard and Emory University suggests estrogen may play a big role in anxiety.
HRT with Estrogen May Lower Fear Response & Anxiety
According to The Harvard Gazette, recent research shows that estrogen levels may affect how susceptible some women are to anxiety. The article explains that depression and anxiety disorders are about twice as common in women than in men, with times of higher anxiety often linking up with hormone changes, such as puberty, certain periods of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and during menopause.
Both studies looked at fear response in relation to estrogen. They found that estrogen may have a calming effect on the fear response, including for women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, there is some evidence that increasing estrogen may reduce anxiety-like symptoms. Researchers are still studying the effects of HRT on anxiety in menopausal women, but many women notice improvements in their mood symptoms after beginning an HRT regimen.
Why Might HRT Help with Anxiety During Menopause?
Estrogen is a sex hormone, so you might be wondering what it has to do with anxiety and why hormone imbalance treatment may help with anxiety symptoms. Scientists are still studying the connection. However, it may be due to estrogen receptors in the brain that can increase the risk for anxiety. For instance, estrogen receptors may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is basically the relationship between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland. The key detail to note here is that this axis has a large impact on your body’s response to stress. Some researchers also believe estrogen receptors in the brain can impact serotonin levels, which may also explain the link between estrogen and anxiety.
Hormone Imbalance Treatment from HerKare
If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, visit our providers at HerKare for help. We are a women’s health clinic dedicated to empowering women through quality health care. Our team takes a holistic approach to health care and provides treatment solutions personalized to you. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance, our team may prescribe bioidentical hormone therapy to help alleviate your symptoms. Make an appointment at one of our convenient locations today!
by Melanie Remy | Mar 28, 2022 | Aesthetics
Kybella aesthetic treatments have helped many people regain their confidence by improving the look of their chin and jawline. Kybella is a non-invasive option for reducing fat under the chin often responsible for the appearance of a double chin. Let’s talk about double chins, Kybella, and some things you should know before treatment.
Double Chin? Consider Kybella Aesthetic Treatments
Kybella aesthetic treatments target fat cells under the chin.
If you see a double chin when you look in the mirror, you’re not alone. Surveys from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery have found that about 73% of people feel bothered by fat underneath their chin.
The technical term for excess fat under the chin that can cause a double chin is submental fullness. Submental fullness is a common issue. Many people associate it with being overweight or obese, but there are many reasons you might notice a double or even triple chin.
One factor is certainly weight gain. As you gain weight, your body stores the extra fat. Sometimes, your body will store it in the neck and chin area, creating the illusion that you have more than one chin.
However, genetics and age can also play a role in whether you have a double chin. Genetics can determine how and where your body stores fat. Age also affects fat storage in your body and can also make the skin under your chin become less elastic, which can make the appearance of submental fat look worse.
The good news is, there are treatment options available for submental fat. If you feel embarrassed or self-conscious about your chin and jawline, Kybella aesthetic treatments may be a good option for you. These are non-surgical aesthetic injections that can actually reduce the amount of fat underneath your chin.
What is Kybella? How is it Different from Other Aesthetic Injectables?
You might be familiar with several different types of aesthetic injectables, such as Botox for wrinkles or fillers to increase volume in your lips and other parts of your face. However, Kybella injections are much different from these treatments.
Kybella is an injectable that targets and destroys fat cells. It is an FDA-approved treatment for reducing fat under the chin to help improve the appearance of your neck, jawline, and chin. Most people get Kybella injections for the dreaded double chin that can stick around even when you maintain a healthy weight.
Kybella Uses Synthetic Deoxycholic Acid for Aesthetic Treatments for Fat Under the Chin
Kybella works by using deoxycholic acid to actually destroy fat cells to reduce their size. Deoxycholic acid is a substance that naturally occurs in our bodies, specifically in the digestive system. This acid helps us break down fats in the food we eat so our body can absorb them.
When you get Kybella aesthetic treatments, our provider injects the deoxycholic acid into specific areas under the chin to target stubborn fat cells. As the Kybella reaches those cells, it destroys them. This makes them lose the fullness that is responsible for the look of the double chin. Once this happens, they are no longer able to accumulate more fat, which means Kybella can be a permanent solution for double chins.
Kybella works gradually using your body’s own processes to destroy and reduce the size of fat cells from the treatment area. Therefore, it produces gradual, natural-looking results. Also, because your body naturally produces deoxycholic acid, there is little risk for allergic reactions.
Kybella Can be an Alternative to Liposuction & Other Surgical Options
Many people choose Kybella to treat fat under the chin instead of going with more invasive options like liposuction. During a liposuction procedure, typically the surgeon puts you to sleep under general anesthesia. Then, they make an incision to insert a tube, called a cannula, into the treatment area to draw the fat cells out using suction. Recovery from liposuction typically takes a few days to two weeks to return to normal activities and the surgeon may recommend wearing a compression garment for a few months after.
Because of the risks of surgery, the downtime needed for recovery, and many other factors, many people choose Kybella as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction to reduce the appearance of fat under the chin. Kybella aesthetic treatments take just 15 to 20 minutes in the office with practically no downtime.
Who is a Good Candidate for Kybella Aesthetic Treatments?
Everyone is different, so you should talk to our providers about whether Kybella is right for you. However, here are some signs you might be a good candidate for Kybella aesthetic treatments:
- You are over 18
- Your double chin persists despite healthy diet and exercise
- You’re at a stable weight
- Your skin is in good condition and has good elasticity
It’s important to remember that Kybella only helps with excess fat under the chin. Therefore, if you have a double chin from loose skin, this treatment likely won’t offer the results you’re looking for.
Also, while Kybella can permanently destroy fat cells so they can no longer accumulate fat, the unaffected fat cells left behind still may. Therefore, we generally recommend being at a healthy, stable weight before beginning Kybella injections.
What to Expect from Kybella for Double Chin
You should talk to our providers about the specifics of Kybella treatment based on your individual circumstances. However, here is some general information about frequently asked questions about Kybella:
How Many Kybella Aesthetic Treatments Do I Need?
Our provider can discuss how many treatments are needed for you specifically. Some people can see results in as little as one treatment. However, you can receive up to six treatments with Kybella, at least one month apart each.
During Kybella treatment, you typically receive between 20 and 30 injections in the treatment area under the chin, though you can receive up to 50 for more severe cases. It generally takes a few weeks or months to see results because it takes time for Kybella to destroy and reduce the size of the fat cells. Therefore, if you don’t notice immediate results after the first treatment, you don’t necessarily need another. Your provider can help you determine when or if you need more Kybella injections.
What Kind of Results Does Kybella Offer?
Since Kybella destroys fat cells, they cannot continue to store and accumulate fat. Therefore, in many cases, the results from Kybella are permanent, meaning it’s expected you won’t need further treatment after your initial treatment with Kybella. Many people are happy with the results from Kybella, which appear gradually as your body gets rid of the targeted fat cells. Most people notice results within 12 weeks.
What is the Recovery Like After Kybella?
Everyone is different, but most people can return to their normal activities immediately after getting Kybella injections. Some people notice side effects like swelling, redness, and discomfort at the treatment site, but these typically resolve within a week or two. Generally, you can manage these side effects at home with things like:
- Cold compresses
- OTC medicines like Tylenol
- Light massage in the treatment area
One of the many reasons people choose Kybella over more invasive options is because of the reduced downtime after treatment.
State-of-the-Art Aesthetic Treatments at HerKare
Our team at HerKare is here to help you live your best life, which means feeling and looking your best. We believe in empowering women to address their health and aesthetic needs. We are a clinic owned and operated by women for women and offer the latest aesthetic treatments to our patients. Make an appointment today to learn more about Kybella treatments from our professionals.
by Melanie Remy | Mar 18, 2022 | Menopause, Wellness
If you have symptoms of an ovarian cyst after you reach menopause, you should schedule an appointment at our women’s health clinic. While these are often harmless, they can cause serious symptoms, complications, and may even point to cancer. In this article, we’re going to discuss ovarian cysts after menopause and some things you need to know to stay healthy.
Your women’s health clinic can help you address your health if you have ovarian cysts after menopause.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. About 7% of women will experience an ovarian cyst in their lifetime. They come in many different forms. They are more common before menopause when the ovaries are more active. There are a couple of different functional ovarian cysts associated with the menstrual cycle for pre-menopausal women that often go away on their own and don’t cause any symptoms.
However, after menopause, it’s less likely that you will experience ovarian cysts, and frequently these are different from the functional cysts you may have experienced in your pre-menopausal years. This is because the ovaries stop releasing eggs and produce less estrogen and progesterone, meaning they’re less active after menopause. Therefore, if you think you might have an ovarian cyst after menopause, it’s important to discuss it with one of our treatment providers.
Seek Care from Our Women’s Health Clinic for Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
While ovarian cysts are less common after menopause, they can still develop as long as you have your ovaries. Ovarian cysts can cause many different symptoms, including:
- Dull ache in the lower back or pelvis
- Aches in the thighs
- Feeling pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvis
- Bloating or swelling in the lower abdomen
- Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis
- Pain during sex
- Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowels
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Unexplained weight gain
If you’re experiencing these common symptoms of ovarian cysts, it’s important to make an appointment with our women’s health care providers for diagnosis and treatment.
In some cases, ovarian cysts can cause complications. For instance, they can increase the risk of ovarian torsion, which is where the ovary begins to twist and may cut off blood flow to the area. Ovarian cysts can also rupture, which can cause dangerous internal bleeding. Some symptoms you need immediate medical care for an ovarian cyst include:
- Severe, sudden pain
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Ovarian Cysts After Menopause: Important Information to Know
If you’re a post-menopausal women, there are several things you should know about ovarian cysts after menopause. Of course, everyone is different, so it’s important to talk to the providers at our women’s health clinic about your specific circumstances. However, we have some general information to help you if you think you may have an ovarian cyst after menopause.
Ovarian Cysts After Menopause May Increase Your Risk for Ovarian Cancer
One important reason to seek treatment from our women’s health care providers if you suspect you have an ovarian cyst is that cysts are more likely to be cancerous if you experience them after menopause. While most ovarian cysts after menopause are benign, there is a higher risk for ovarian cancer as we age. Therefore, we recommend getting care if you think you might have an ovarian cyst. While a suspected ovarian cyst is no reason to panic, it is something you should take seriously and visit our women’s health clinic to help rule out malignant cysts.
How Your Women’s Health Clinic Diagnoses Ovarian Cysts After Menopause
If you think you have an ovarian cyst and you’ve already gone through menopause, there are several ways our providers may diagnose you. Understanding what to expect can help you feel more prepared and at ease before and during your appointment.
Our women’s health care professionals may conduct a pelvic exam to look for signs of the cyst. Often, the doctor can feel the cyst during an exam, and it also allows them to examine the vagina, cervix, and uterus for signs of other causes of your symptoms.
Another way your provider may diagnose an ovarian cyst is with imaging. This is frequently through ultrasound to look at the ovaries for signs of cysts.
Our team may also recommend a blood test to look for higher levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), which could be a sign of ovarian cancer. However, keep in mind other conditions can also raise CA125, like pelvic infections, fibroids, and endometriosis.
How Our Women’s Health Clinic Providers May Treat Ovarian Cysts
After diagnosis, we can discuss different treatment options based on our findings. In many cases, we may recommend monitoring the cyst for changes. If the cyst is small and benign, we may not need to remove it or do anything further. These cysts often go away on their own. However, our women’s health clinic may recommend regular monitoring to see if the cyst changes in size or appearance.
For larger cysts, cysts that cause you symptoms, or cysts that may be cancerous, our team may recommend surgically removing them. There are several approaches to this. One is to simply remove the cyst from the ovary. Another option is an oophorectomy, where the surgeon removes the affected ovary. In some cases, you may also need a hysterectomy.
Conditions that May Increase Your Risk for Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts can happen to anyone. However, there are some things that can increase the risk of developing an ovarian cyst that you should be aware of. These include:
- History of ovarian cysts (if you have had one before, you’re more likely to get another)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Severe pelvic infections
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Hypothyroidism
If you experience these conditions, talk to our women’s health care providers about your risks for ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer, as well as what to do if you think you have an ovarian cyst.
Types of Ovarian Cysts You May Experience After Menopause
There are several types of ovarian cysts you can develop. We mentioned functional cysts in an earlier section, which are associated with your menstrual cycle before menopause. After menopause, ovarian cysts typically fall into one of three categories:
- Dermoid Ovarian Cysts: Dermoid ovarian cysts are a sac of tissue on the ovaries. They often appear during your reproductive years but may get larger over time. These cysts are rarely cancerous and are usually made up of other types of cells, such as skin, teeth, or hair cells.
- Cystadenoma Ovarian Cysts: These cysts are generally on the surface of the ovary and are filled with water-like fluid or mucus. They are typically benign but can be malignant.
- Endometriomas Ovarian Cysts: Endometriomas are cysts caused by a growth of endometrial (uterine lining) cells on the ovaries. These are most common for women with endometriosis, which is a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. Like other cysts, they can be cancerous but are generally benign.
Convenient Health Care from Our Women’s Health Clinic
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of an ovarian cyst or want to discuss options for maintaining a healthy lifestyle after menopause, our professionals at HerKare are here to help. We are a women’s health clinic managed by women for women to help you address and improve your overall wellbeing. Our team offers quality, compassionate health care at every stage of life, pre-menopause to post-menopause. Schedule an appointment at one of our clinics today!
by Melanie Remy | Mar 4, 2022 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness
Low estrogen levels during menopause can cause many different symptoms and health concerns. As you may know, declining estrogen is responsible for symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes during menopause. However, many people don’t realize that low estrogen during menopause can also lead to other issues like overactive bladder. Let’s discuss the link between estrogen and overactive bladder (OAB) and what you can do to help with OAB during menopause.
Low estrogen might cause changes in your pelvic muscles and bladder that affect your everyday activities.
Low Estrogen During Menopause Can Lead to Overactive Bladder
Many people experience overactive bladder. However, overactive bladder is more common in women, and the risk for OAB increases as we approach middle age. This is also the time where our hormone levels begin to fluctuate, eventually leading to menopause.
Studies suggest decreasing estrogen levels in menopause may be to blame for overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. Estrogen is an important hormone in your body that is responsible for many different functions. You can find estrogen receptors throughout the body, including in the bladder. Therefore, changes in estrogen levels during and after menopause may lead to overactive bladder symptoms.
What is Overactive Bladder?
Overactive bladder is a health condition an estimated 33 million Americans experience. This condition affects your bladder control and can cause unwanted symptoms that affect everyday life. Overactive bladder is a type of urinary incontinence and is also known as urgency incontinence. OAB is different from stress incontinence, which can cause you to leak urine when there’s extra pressure on your bladder, such as when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Instead, overactive bladder generally means you experience frequent and urgent feeling that you need to pee, often at inconvenient times.
Symptoms of Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder can cause many symptoms. You might have overactive bladder if you:
- Experience sudden urges to urinate immediately
- Can’t “hold it” until you can make it to the toilet
- Experience urine leaks right after a sudden urge to urinate
- Wake up at night frequently to pee
- Urinate more than eight times in a 24-hour day
As you can see, overactive bladder can be a disruptive condition that may affect your overall quality of life. Fortunately, there are treatments available.
It’s important to understand that overactive bladder is not a normal part of aging. Our providers can help you find treatment solutions based on your needs and lifestyle, including increasing estrogen levels in your body if low estrogen is to blame for your OAB.
How Does Low Estrogen Lead to Overactive Bladder?
The link between overactive bladder and estrogen is complex. Researchers are still studying the exact cause. However, there are several potential explanations that may shed light on estrogen’s effects on the bladder.
Low estrogen can cause many changes in the body, including weaker pelvic muscles and a thinner urethra lining. These changes may increase the risk for overactive bladder and poor bladder control after menopause.
Low Estrogen Weakens the Pelvic Muscles
The higher estrogen levels we have in our bodies before menopause may have a protective effect on the pelvic muscles. Estrogen can help keep the pelvic muscles strong before menopause. Strong pelvic muscles support the bladder and also assist with the ability to hold in your urine until you can make it to the bathroom.
Low estrogen during and after menopause can cause pelvic muscles to become weaker, reducing bladder support and your ability to hold in your urine. In turn, this can cause overactive bladder symptoms, like frequent and strong urges to urinate or not being able to make it to the restroom in time.
Low Estrogen May Thin the Lining of the Urethra
Declining estrogen levels during menopause can also affect the lining of your urethra, which is the tube that connects your bladder to the outside of the body. The lining of the urethra is made up of muscle tissue that allows it to contract and expand. When you use the restroom, the lining relaxes while the bladder contracts to let the urine out of your bladder and into the toilet.
However, low estrogen can cause this lining to become thinner and less elastic. This may also explain the connection between menopause and overactive bladder, as a thinner lining may make it more difficult to prevent urine leaks when you experience the urge to urinate.
Other Explanations for the Link Between Estrogen Levels and Overactive Bladder
There may also be other explanations for why low estrogen levels can increase the risk of overactive bladder. For instance, lower estrogen during menopause can lead to more frequent urinary tract infections, which is where a bacteria builds up in the urinary tract and causes an infection. UTIs can also cause inflammation and irritation throughout the urinary tract and bladder, which may cause some of the same symptoms as overactive bladder like frequency, urgency, and incontinence. However, without treatment, UTIs can lead to issues like permanent kidney damage or even sepsis. Therefore, your symptoms of OAB could actually be an infection that may turn life-threatening if left untreated. If you’re experiencing symptoms of overactive bladder, it’s important to seek help from one of our providers to rule out a UTI and get treatment.
Another potential reason many women experience overactive bladder after menopause is due to increased pressure on the bladder. It’s common for women to gain weight around the time of menopause. Those extra pounds can also put added stress on the bladder and make it harder to control urges to urinate or hold in your urine until you can reach the restroom. Therefore, menopausal weight gain could also be part of the problem when it comes to overactive bladder.
Women’s Hormone Care May Help with Overactive Bladder
Because of the association between estrogen levels and overactive bladder, many researchers have been studying the effects of hormone therapy on overactive bladder. One 2020 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that vaginal estrogen may help relieve overactive bladder symptoms. The researchers believe this is due to a type of good bacteria called Lactobacillus.
Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria found in the gut, vagina, and also in the bladder. Yet, low estrogen levels can reduce the amount of this good bacteria in your body. The study looked at the number of Lactobacillus bacteria in the bladder for women using estrogen replacement therapy. They found that those using vaginal estrogen had more of the bacteria in their bladder and also saw some improvements in their overactive bladder symptoms.
Therefore, women’s hormone care may help with your overactive bladder symptoms. For example, it’s common to use vaginal estrogen to help strengthen the muscles and tissues in the pelvic area and urethra, which may work well for your overactive bladder.
Other Treatments for Overactive Bladder
There are also many other treatment options available for overactive bladder which may work well for you. When you discuss your symptoms with our team, we may recommend some of these treatments to help you improve bladder control and symptoms.
For example, our providers may recommend lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the pressure on the bladder. We may also recommend Kegel exercises, which can strengthen the pelvic muscles. Also, scheduled bathroom breaks, even if you don’t feel the urge to go, can help retrain your bladder to prevent those strong and sudden urges to urinate.
Other treatment options include medications. Typically, the medications are designed to relax the bladder to help with the symptoms of urgency. These often come in pills or patches you use each day. However, some people also receive small doses of Botox in the bladder to help relax the muscles. Our providers can discuss personalized treatment options for you.
Healthcare for Women at HerKare
Our team at HerKare is dedicated to providing quality healthcare for women. We are a clinic owned and managed by women and are here to help you improve your health. Whether you need a hormone doctor for your menopause symptoms or need preventative well woman care, our providers listen, understand, and help you take care of your overall wellbeing. Make an appointment today at one of our convenient locations.
