Let's get a Super Vagina...

This article is for educational and general wellness purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are experiencing symptoms, please consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

Let's start at the beginning... this all starts around peri-menopause. Menopause is a major transition phase in a woman's life where estrogen and progesterone hormone levels drop. Declining estrogen levels have a significant impact on skin structure — especially in the vagina. As if that's not enough, changes in vaginal muscle tone are often associated with comfort concerns, including changes in vaginal sensation and moisture.

When Do Pelvic Changes Start?

For many women, these issues start to occur with perimenopause, although changes in weight and pelvic surgeries can also contribute, as well as... you guessed it — childbirth. The pelvic floor is a collection of many small muscles woven together like a basket that supports the bladder and uterus. As women age, gain weight, have children, or have a hysterectomy, it is common for this "basket" to drop as a result of decreased muscle strength. When this happens, pelvic organ prolapse and decreased vaginal sensation may become a concern.

Bladder comfort changes are a common experience for women in and after menopause.

Understanding Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is a situation where urine leaks when your body puts pressure on your bladder. Imagine your bladder is like a balloon, and you squeeze it a bit. Normally, muscles and tissues around your bladder hold everything in place. But with stress incontinence, those muscles and tissues weaken.

Here's the breakdown:

• The Culprit: Weak pelvic floor muscles and tissues are often involved in stress incontinence. These muscles support your bladder and urethra (the tube that carries urine out).
• The Trigger: When you cough, laugh, sneeze, exercise, or even just lift something heavy, it increases pressure in your abdomen. This pressure pushes down on your bladder, and if the muscles and tissues are weak, you might leak some urine.

Stress incontinence tends to increase with age and is a particularly common complaint in postmenopausal years.

What About Postpartum Pelvic Changes?

For many women, childbirth can really cause havoc to both the vulva and the vagina. But why is this? Three reasons: vulva tearing, hormone changes, and internal muscle changes — pelvic floor changes during and after pregnancy can affect overall comfort and vaginal wellness, and even support a visit to a pelvic floor specialist worth considering. Staying active with pelvic floor exercises and supporting overall vaginal wellness postpartum can support long-term comfort. Check out the 'Vagina WOD' for inspiration!

Three Steps to Supporting Pelvic Wellness

1. Kegels. Kegel exercises for the pelvic floor can be done with or without vaginal weights. When performed consistently, pelvic floor exercises may support improved vaginal tone and overall pelvic comfort. Our 'Vagina WOD' workout can also be a great addition to your movement routine!

2. Estriol and intimate skin comfort. While toning exercises can be very effective, estriol — the gentlest of the naturally occurring estrogens — is associated with supporting intimate skin suppleness and comfort. Read more about the science behind it here. An educational overview of estriol is a great place to start if you're curious about what it is and how it differs from other estrogens.

3. Lifestyle changes — in particular, managing constipation. When you're constipated, a buildup of stool fills your rectum. This puts pressure on your bladder, which sits right behind it. This pressure can cause two types of discomfort: a sudden, strong urge to urinate even if your bladder isn't full, and difficulty completely emptying your bladder — which can lead to leaking urine even when you don't feel the urge. Managing fiber, hydration, and movement can make a real difference.