It is natural that the organism, with passage of time and the natural effects of agingkeep changing. Age will come the same for everyone, and that includes changes in physiological functions such as urinary function: urinating more frequently, and even occasionally at night, stops being something occasional and becomes a constant; without going overboard, since it would not be so natural to require urinating several times each night.
Since this topic is usually taboo for many people, not much is usually disclosed about the changes in urinary function associated with age, which is why many people develop habits that make urologists and gynecologists cry out loud, and rightly so. In fact, as urogynecologist Dr. Tirsit Shiferaw Asfaw, MD, explains, there are some particular habits that he does not recommend to any of his patients.
As Dr. Asfaw explains, there are several possible changes in the pelvic floor of women as age advancesand this affects urinary and bladder health. Pregnancy and childbirth, especially vaginal birth, can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and increase the risk of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
“In addition to childbirth, aging It can similarly affect these structures, weakening them over time and causing pelvic floor disorders. As with all the muscles in our body, the pelvic floor muscles can weaken with age and the decrease in estrogen, something that occurs during pregnancy. menopause“.
For her part, Dr. Lopa Pandya, MD, MS, urogynecologist and vice chair of the Public Education Committee of the American Society of Urogynecology, as well as medical advisor for Aeroflow Urology, explains that Decreased estrogen associated with menopause can also cause vaginal atrophy and therefore vaginal dryness:
“This is a consequence of the thinning of the vaginal tissue and that surrounding the urethra. From a urinary point of view, this can cause pain when urinating, urinary urgency, urinary frequency and incontinence. Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles is related to age and menopause. Other risk factors for suffering a prolapse include pregnancy, having had vaginal births, chronic straining due to constipation, chronic cough and being overweight, among other risk factors. symptoms of genital prolapse “They may include pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, feeling like you’re sitting on a ball, or difficulty emptying your bladder or having bowel movements.”
Although you may experience the sensation of needing to urinate more frequently as you age, Trying to hold back urination to avoid going to the bathroom is a big mistake.According to both specialists: you should listen to your body and not retain urine beyond a reasonable time.
“Some women say they don’t like using public bathrooms and hold urine all day. Younger women, with a strong pelvic floor, may hold urine longer; older women will likely have a weaker pelvic floor, either because age or a history of pregnancy and vaginal birth, so they may not be able to hold on long enough to reach the bathroom. all women should go to the bathroom on timeand this time can be variable depending on fluid intake.”
In addition to avoiding holding your urine too long, Dr. Aldene Zeno, MD, a urogynecologist at Essence Health and Gynecology, explains that Women aged 50 or older should not ignore bothersome urinary symptoms and prevent them from becoming serious. Depending on the life context, there are many women who often postpone addressing their own health by prioritizing the health of children or family members, or even prioritizing their work before their health, as Dr. Zeno herself explains.
“The best habit for women aged 50 and over is recognize urinary symptoms early and address them with your doctor. Incontinence and overactive bladder have been linked to a condition called frailty, which is associated with loss of muscle mass, decreased activity, and increased morbidity. “Urinary health is an integral part of aging with vitality.”
In addition, It is important not to classify everything as a urinary tract infectiongiven that in menopause and perimenopause, women can suffer symptoms similar to this ailment and take antibiotics without this being necessary, suffering adverse effects, resistance to antibiotics, and no benefits, as Dr. Pandya explains. In addition, he explains, it is important to hydrate adequately to avoid any possible urinary infection. You should not assume that any bothersome urinary symptom is an “age thing” or that it is “a urine infection”, you must know how to recognize them and treat them as appropriate.