On this international day of action for women’s health, let’s celebrate the female gender! Women’s bodies are capable of great things. Her reproductive organs face multiple changes from puberty to menopause, pregnancy and childbirth for many. These hardships in life put women at greater risk of developing urinary incontinence. Another little-known problem is sexual dysfunction in women. It affects 30 to 50% of them. Here are some tips on these two issues that are not often discussed.

5 tips for urinary incontinence

1. Make sure you drink enough water. One should consume about 1.5 liters of water per day. A mucus present in the urinary meatus is used to affix the walls of the latter to close it and help urinary continence. Dehydration can promote dryness of the perineal tissues, limiting the production of this mucus.
2. Limit the consumption of caffeine and theine. These are substances that can irritate the bladder wall and increase the frequency of urination.
3. Avoid pushing when having a bowel movement. Evacuation should not require holding the breath. Proper toilet posture will help you do this.
4. A body mass index above 30 is a risk factor for urinary incontinence. A good diet and physical activity can help you with this.
5. If you suffer from urinary incontinence, good control and strength of your pelvic floor muscles are essential to achieving continence. A physiotherapist in perineal and pelvic rehabilitation is the resource in this matter.

4 tips regarding sexual dysfunction

1. A conflict with the partner or a lack of communication with this one can be at the origin of the sexual dysfunction. Resolving these conflicts can be a solution. Counseling therapy could help you in this regard.
2. Did you know that certain drugs exacerbate or cause sexual problems? This is particularly the case with anti-depressants. The doctor or pharmacist can help you identify the drugs involved, if any, in your case.
3. Muscle and joint pain can also be a hindrance to sexual intercourse. Indeed, it can be difficult to find a comfortable position. Your healthcare professional can direct you, at your request, to the safest position(s) depending on your condition.
4. Pain in the perineal region or during penetration may reduce the desire for sexual intercourse or make it unpleasant. Perineal rehabilitation has an important role in the management of this pain.

Sources :

1. Brunet. La dysfonction sexuelle féminine ou les problèmes sexuels chez la femme 2018. Available from: https://www.brunet.ca/fr/sante/thematiques/sante-sexuelle/la-sante-sexuelle-chez-la-femme/la-dysfonction-sexuelle-feminine-ou-les-problemes-sexuels-chez-la-femme.html.
2. Joanie Mercier, Clémence Bélanger. Problématique urinaire féminine. Université de Montréal2018.