Urology

Menopause And Urine Infection

Dr. Aman Gupta Jun 18, 2021

Menopause is the time that marks the end of a womanâ€™s menstrual cycles due to natural decline in reproductive hormones. It can occur in the ages of 40s or 50s in the women. It's diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause is natural biological process. Symptoms that can be experienced in the time (months or years) leading to menopause (Perimenopause) can be:

Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness
Hot flashes (sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest)
Chills
Night sweats
Sleep problems
Mood changes
Weight gain and slowed metabolism
Thinning hair and dry skin
Loss of breast fullness

Once in menopause (you havenâ€™t had a period for 12 months) and on into Post-Menopause, the symptoms may continue for an average of four to five years, but they decrease in frequency and intensity. Average age of menopause of an Indian woman is 46.2 years, while it is 51 years in the US.Â Urinary tract infections are more common in women. They usually occur in the bladder or urethra, but more serious infections involve the kidney. Urine Infections are more common after menopause. Some of the reasons for this could be:

Lack hormones can cause change in bacterial flora and can also cause Vaginal linin thinning and increased susceptibility to infection
There may be difficulties in emptying bladder leading to retained urine and increased chances of infection
Rarely, prolapse of organs can lead to retained urine and infection
Associated co-morbidities like Diabetes can make one more prone to UTI

Infections are easily treated with antibiotics but often tend to recur. Â A 2016 study also found that a supplement of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, curcumin, and quercetin was effective in reducing the frequency of urinary tract infections in post-menopausal women, especially when combined with topical vaginal estrogen therapy. Tips for UTI prevention:

Empty bladder at regular intervals
Use of vaginal estrogen cream after consult with your gynaecologist
Taking care of any co-morbidities like diabetes
Sometimes, long term low dose Prophylactic Antibiotics have to be given to reduce chances of UTI.
Managing Vaginal dryness through water-soluble lubricants
Staying Hydrated

Menopause, in many ways, can be freeing, as you no longer need to cope with periods, and children are often becoming independent. Too many women simply "tolerate" these symptoms and never bring them up during appointments. It is important to realise that although menopause â€œliberatesâ€ women from menstrual cycle, it does lead to dangerous onset of other diseases, especially reproductive and urinary system based. Itâ€™s essential to keep in mind to consult doctors in case of any symptoms and problem that one might face.