Pelvic Health
Aly is not just a menopause specialist, she has lots of experience in many areas within nursing including sexual health.
We all know how busy the NHS is today and often it’s difficult to get an appointment with the Practice Nurse for your smear test or contraception review. Do not worry. Book an appointment with Aly instead.
Many menopausal women suffer with vaginal symptoms including painful intercourse, vaginal dryness and passing urine more frequently. This is because there any many oestrogen receptors in the bladder and around the entrance to the vagina and when levels of circulating oestrogen fall, the symptoms can arise.
This is a hugely taboo subject and rarely discussed in a consultation with GPs especially. 1/3 of women suffering with vaginal symptoms do not seek medical advice and are suffering needlessly. Vaginal dryness is one of the symptoms that can persist after your menopause has ended. The medical term for this is vaginal atrophy.
There are solutions!
Topical oestrogen is available on prescription to help deliver oestrogen directly into the vagina in the form or a cream, pessary or a ring. This is not the same as taking HRT and does not carry the same associated risks. Topical vaginal oestrogen can be used safely for long periods of time and is very effective in helping with symptoms.
Vaginal moisturisers are also available to buy – these are non hormonal creams that are applied directly to the vagina to keep the tissues hydrated. Vaginal lubricants can also be used during sexual intercourse to relieve any discomfort.
FAQ
what you need to know about the pelvic floor
What is the emotional and physical impact on a poor pelvic floor?
There is more to intimacy than just sexual intercourse, and hugging, kissing and simply holding hands are all ways that you can maintain physical contact.
Exercise releases endorphins- feel good chemicals that help to improve our mood and sense of wellbeing. Exercise also increases the blood flow to the vagina which helps to improve sensitivity.
Many women who suffer with stress incontinence wear a panty liner and this can rub the skin and make symptoms worse. Pelvic floor exercises can help with bladder weakness as well as improve the blood flow to the vagina.
Pelvic floor weakness has a physical, psychological and social impact on women and their families. Many women are unable to leave their own homes to visit friends or walk round a supermarket for fear of leaking urine. It is estimated that 80% of women suffer with some form of incontinence. One in ten of these women may require surgery to to help and yet regular, lifelong pelvic floor exercises can drastically reduce this.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a hammock of muscles in the pelvis supporting the bladder, uterus(womb) and bowel. These muscles span from your tailbone (coccyx) to the pubic bone – so they run front to back, but also side to side. If these muscles are not exercised regularly, like any muscle, they can become weakened. This results in the lack of control you have over passing urine, wind of faeces. Pelvic floor exercises also improve the blood flow to the vagina and help with sexual dysfunction.
In severe cases, your internal organs can drop down into the vagina- this is called a prolapse.
Pelvic floor muscles naturally start deteriorating from the age of 18. Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause all make these symptoms worse, but it is never too early to start pelvic floor exercises. Regular pelvic floor exercises need to be part of your daily routine.
What are kegel weights and how do they help?
Kegel weights help to to strengthen, tone and tighten your pelvic floor much quicker than if you do your exercises without them as they help you to recognise which muscles you should actually be exercising.
Please feel free to contact Simply Menopausal for further advice.
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