As women go through childbearing, menopause and the ageing proces, they begin to experience changes.
Changes that can impact a woman's quality of life including vagina laxity, stress urinary incontinence, loss of vaginal lubrication, a decrease in erotic sensation and loss of tone and thickness of the labia majora.
It is estimated that about one third of young and middle aged women have a sexual health problem and about half the older women have a sexual problem. Sometimes issues with intimate wellness are due to life changes or health conditions.
For women, sexual changes are often part of ageing and menopause. The following are common problems women may have with intimate wellness.
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Vaginal dryness: - occurs due to decreasing estrogen associated with menopause. Some medications may also contribute to vaginal dryness. Dryness may result in discomfort and can result in painful intercourse
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Vaginal Laxity: - is a looseness that occurs in the vagina. It can happen after vaginal childbirth but it may also be associated with menopause or ageing. Laxity can cause loss of sensation during intercourse.
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Low Sex Drive: A noticeable drop in sex drive may be caused by physical factors such as hormonal imbalance or vaginal discomfort. Other issues related to menopause (fatigue, insomnia, mood swings) can also contribute to low libido.
Stress Urinary Incontinence
The loss of bladder control is a common and often an embarrassing problem. Severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze, to having an urge to urinate that's so sudden and strong you don't get to the toilet in time.
Though it occurs more often when people get older, urinary incontinence is not an inevitable consequence of ageing.
If urinary incontinence affects your daily activities, don't hesitate to come in and see us.
Symptoms
Many people experience occasional, minor leaks of urine. Others may loose small to moderate amounts of urine more frequently.
Types of urinary incontinence include:
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Stress incontinence:- leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy.
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Urge Incontinence:- a sudden intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by a minor condition such as neurological condition or diabetes.
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Overflow incontinence: - frequent or constant dribbling of the urine due to a bladder that doesn't empty completely.
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Functional incontinence: physical or mental impairment keeps you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to unbutton your trousers quickly enough.
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Mixed incontinence: you experience more then one type if urinary incontinence, Most often this refers to a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
You may feel uncomfortable discussing your leaky bladder with a professional, but if it is frequent or affecting you quality of life, its important to seek medical advice
Urinary incontinence may:
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Cause you to restrict your activities and limit your social interaction.
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Increase the risk of falls in older adults as they rush to the toilet
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Negatively impact your quality of life