Oconomowoc Women: How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Menopause Can Help You

Why Menopause Is a Prime Time for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

There are 3 major times in a woman’s life when our bodies and hormones do a complete shake-up: puberty, pregnancy/postpartum, and menopause.

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of women in Oconomowoc seeking out pelvic floor physical therapy in menopause. And honestly, it makes sense — hormone changes during this time can trigger a whole list of symptoms.

The good news? There’s a LOT you can do to feel better and actually enjoy this stage of life!

What Exactly Is Menopause?

Menopause officially happens when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. For most women, that’s somewhere between ages 45 and 56. However, all the changes that lead up to menopause can last up to 10 years.

There are some DRASTIC changes that happen in our hormone levels. Our estrogen and progesterone levels take the biggest hit. The sharp drop in estrogen is what ends up causing most of the “fun” menopause symptoms.

Some of the most common ones include:

Mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
Hot flashes
Weight gain
Vaginal dryness
Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles

…just to name a few.

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Menopause Can Help

Let’s focus on those last two: vaginal dryness and pelvic floor changes. These are both areas where pelvic floor physical therapy in menopause can make a HUGE difference.

Vaginal Dryness

Estrogen is your body’s natural lubricant. When estrogen levels fall, things can get dry. That can lead to painful sex, bleeding, and a lower libido (because let’s be real… if it hurts, you’re probably not in the mood).

What Can I Do About Vaginal Dryness?

Use a good quality lubricant during sex. Not all lubes are created equal! You need one that will mimic the environment of the vaginal canal. My favorite water-based lubes are Slippery Stuff and Good Clean Love. For silicone-based, Uberlube is my go-to — it lasts a long time and really cuts down friction. (If you’re in Oconomowoc – hit me up! I have some samples you can try!)
Use a vulvar moisturizer daily. Vaginal dryness can extend beyond the bedroom! For everyday comfort, I recommend a vulvar moisturizer like VMagic (use externally ONLY).
Talk to your doctor about estrogen creams. These can be very helpful in “plumping” up your tissues down there, making things more comfortable. Speak with your gynecologist to see if an estrogen cream would be appropriate for you.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Changes

The drastic drop in estrogen levels also leads to weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. This can increase pelvic floor weakness or tension. Did you know these two kinds of pelvic floor dysfunction exist AND both are problematic?

These changes can lead to:

Leaking with coughing, sneezing, jumping, or running

Urinary frequency or urgency

Pain with sex

Pelvic heaviness or pressure

Pelvic pain

Lower back and/or hip pain

What Can I Do to Support My Pelvic Floor?

While many of these symptoms are common to have before and after menopause, they are symptoms you do not have to live with!

The right strategies often include targeted pelvic floor work (strengthening or relaxation), improving core and hip strength, balance and coordination, and learning how to manage your breathing and abdominal pressure.

So…Which Pelvic Floor Exercises Do I Need?

That’s the tricky part. Pelvic floor tension and pelvic floor weakness can feel surprisingly similar. If you do the wrong exercises, you may not see improvement (and could even make things worse).

Here’s a quick quiz to help point you in the right direction:

Do you experience any of these symptoms?

Pain with intercourse

Constipation

Straining to have a bowel movement

Feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder or bowels

Back and/or hip pain or tightness

If you said yes to any of these, you might have pelvic floor tension. Start with pelvic floor relaxation (like wide leg child’s pose) and deep breathing.

But here’s the catch: some signs of tension can also be symptoms of weakness, including:

Pelvic heaviness or pressure

Leaking with running, jumping, laughing, or coughing

Urinary urgency with or without leaking

Difficulty or weakness when performing a Kegel

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Menopause is a Game Changer!

The fastest, best way to know exactly what’s going on with your pelvic floor muscles? See a pelvic floor physical therapist in menopause! We can pinpoint whether your muscles need strengthening, relaxation, or both — and create a plan customized just for YOU.

Menopause brings a lot of changes, but you don’t have to just “deal with it.” If pelvic floor symptoms are getting in the way of your life, pelvic floor physical therapy in menopause can help you feel like yourself again!

If you’re in the Oconomowoc area, reach out — we’ll figure out exactly what’s going on and create a plan that makes sense for YOU!