Our webinar about Bladder Problems at Menopause featured WellFemme’s Dr Kelly Teagle and pelvic floor physiotherapist Marita O’Shea.
The following is a summary of the relevant information, as well as a list of excellent resources for further reading about particular bladder problems.
How Common Are Bladder Problems At Menopause?
VERY common! Australian statistical data from the Continence Foundation notes that:
- Urinary incontinence affects up to 13% of Australian men and up to 37% of women.
- 50% of women aged 45-59 had some degree of urinary incontinence over a 3-month period.
- 70% of people with urinary leakage do not seek advice or treatment.
[The following few sections are excerpts from Jean Hailes’ excellent “Bladder Incontinence” resource]
What is normal bladder function?
According to the Continence Foundation of Australia, a normal bladder:
- Empties 4-8 times each day (every 3-4 hours)
- Can hold up to 400-600ml of urine (the sensation of needing to empty occurs at 200-300ml)
- May wake you when it is full, but gives …