Changes in urination
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Symptoms of Menopause: Urinary health
Many women find that they have to urinate more frequently as they get older. Also, the bladder control muscles may weaken from lack of estrogen; and pressure from coughing, sneezing, or lifting can push urine though the weakened muscle. Up to 30% of women in midlife experience stress incontinence — or urine leakages — when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or lifting.
What you can do: Many healthcare professionals recommend women perform pelvic floor muscle exercises, or Kegel exercises, to help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. To do these, tighten your pubococcygeus, or "PC" muscles, which are the muscles you would tighten if you were to intentionally stop your urine flow. Tighten and hold these muscles for a count of 10; then relax. Do this ten times, three times a day. Results are typically seen in four to six weeks. Another benefit is that "PC" muscles play a vitally important role in sexual arousal and climax!