Don’t let menopause be defined by hot flushes and mood changes! Despite affecting half the population, there is a lack of knowledge among both individuals and healthcare providers when it comes to menopause and its treatment options. This leads to unnecessary suffering for many. The journey to menopause, known as perimenopause, typically begins in a person’s 40s, with most women experiencing menopause in their early 50s. In addition to the well-known symptoms, there are also more subtle genitourinary symptoms that can worsen if left untreated. These include painful sex, urinary urgency and leakage, burning sensations, recurring infections, and vaginal dryness, which are all signs of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). Interestingly, these symptoms also overlap with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition that affects almost 50% of women in their 50s.
Systemic menopause symptoms are commonly addressed with systemic hormonal therapy at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. However, this approach may not effectively alleviate GSM symptoms. To address this, the North American Menopause Society suggests using vaginal estrogen in menopausal women to alleviate GSM symptoms.
Don’t let menopause be defined by hot flushes and mood changes! Despite affecting half the population, there is a lack of knowledge among both individuals and healthcare providers when it comes to menopause and its treatment options. This leads to unnecessary suffering for many. The journey to menopause, known as perimenopause, typically begins in a person’s 40s, with most women experiencing menopause in their early 50s. In addition to the well-known symptoms, there are also more subtle genitourinary symptoms that can worsen if left untreated. These include painful sex, urinary urgency and leakage, burning sensations, recurring infections, and vaginal dryness, which are all signs of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). Interestingly, these symptoms also overlap with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition that affects almost 50% of women in their 50s.
Systemic menopause symptoms are commonly addressed with systemic hormonal therapy at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. However, this approach may not effectively alleviate GSM symptoms. To address this, the North American Menopause Society suggests using vaginal estrogen in menopausal women to alleviate GSM symptoms.
Differential Diagnosis:
GSM or Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Common Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and GSM include:
- Frequent and urgent need to urinate, accompanied by a burning sensation
- Feeling of pressure or discomfort in the bladder or pelvic area
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Difficulty achieving or experiencing orgasm
- Trouble with bowel movements
- Pain and burning in the vulva and vagina
- Discomfort while sitting
A healthcare professional, such as a pelvic floor physical therapist or doctor at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles, can perform various examinations to assess vulvovaginal health. These include visual examinations, pain assessments using a q-tip, and manual examinations to identify issues like pelvic floor dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, and prolapse. It’s important for all women to receive appropriate medical care to prevent genital symptoms of menopause. What many people don’t realize is that menopausal women can also benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to address musculoskeletal discomfort. By combining physical therapy with medical management, we can help improve sexual pleasure and alleviate urinary and bowel issues.
FACTS
From: https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/further-reading
- Every day, 6,000 women experience menopause.
- Currently, there are 50 million menopausal women in the US.
- A significant 84% of women face genital, sexual, and urinary discomfort during menopause, which does not go away on its own. Shockingly, less than 25% of them seek help.
- Strikingly, 80% of OBGYN residents acknowledge their lack of readiness to discuss menopause.
- 90% of postmenopausal women have clinically detectable GSM, but only ⅓ of them report symptoms.
- Barriers to treatment include women needing to start the conversation, believing symptoms are normal signs of aging, and not connecting their symptoms to menopause.
- Only 13% of providers inquire about menopause symptoms.
- Even after being diagnosed, most women with GSM don’t receive treatment, despite studies showing how it negatively impacts their quality of life. This could be due to providers being hesitant to prescribe treatments and patients’ concerns about safety profiles of vaginal therapies.
Insufficient hormones can cause itching in the labial and vaginal areas. It’s important to consider other dermatological problems like Lichen Sclerosus and yeast infections too.
Menopause brings susceptibility to recurring vaginal and urinary tract infections. This is caused by:
- pH and tissue alterations
- inadequate bladder emptying
- compromised urinary function due to pelvic organ prolapse
Recurrent infections can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction, causing pain and dysfunction even after the infection is treated. It is crucial to stop these infections and seek hormone therapy if necessary to prevent further complications. Ignoring these infections can result in severe consequences such as unexplained pain, difficulty in sexual activities, and potential kidney problems.
Seeking the guidance of a menopause expert at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles is essential for effectively addressing and resolving these significant and manageable issues. It is crucial to promote open dialogue regarding GSM, as there is no need for embarrassment. With appropriate care, individuals can lead fulfilling lives. Pelvic floor physical therapy and medical management complement each other seamlessly.
How We Can Help You
If you’re experiencing sexual function issues, it’s important to see a therapist for pelvic floor therapy at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. They can help determine if your pelvic floor is contributing to your symptoms. During the evaluation, the therapist will discuss your medical history, previous diagnoses, and the effectiveness of past treatments. The therapist will assess nerves, muscles, joints, tissues, and movement patterns. After the evaluation, the therapist will review the results with you and establish therapy goals. Treatment typically involves weekly sessions for about 12 weeks. Your therapist will also help coordinate with other experts on your treatment team. You’ll receive exercises to do at home and during in-person sessions. Our goal is to help you improve and live your best life.
For more information about IC/PBS, check out our resource list.
How We Can Help You
If you’re experiencing sexual function issues, it’s important to see a therapist for pelvic floor therapy at Menopause Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. They can help determine if your pelvic floor is contributing to your symptoms. During the evaluation, the therapist will discuss your medical history, previous diagnoses, and the effectiveness of past treatments. The therapist will assess nerves, muscles, joints, tissues, and movement patterns. After the evaluation, the therapist will review the results with you and establish therapy goals. Treatment typically involves weekly sessions for about 12 weeks. Your therapist will also help coordinate with other experts on your treatment team. You’ll receive exercises to do at home and during in-person sessions. Our goal is to help you improve and live your best life.
For more information about IC/PBS, check out our resource list.
