Ep 8. How Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause affect your Bladder and Vaginal Health

Are you noticing changes in your bladder or urinary health and wonder if it’s hormonal or possibly linked to perimenopause? You’re not alone! In this episode, we dive into how hormonal shifts, particularly declining oestrogen from our late 30s onwards can influence bladder function, urinary symptoms, and even our susceptibility to UTIs.I’ll share insights into why these changes happen, what your symptoms might mean, and practical steps you can take to support your bladder health during this transitional phase.Whether you’re dealing with urgency, vaginal discomfort, or recurrent UTIs, this episode will help you understand what’s going on in your body and empower you with tools to feel better.Let’s break down the connection between hormonal changes, perimenopause and your bladder so you can approach these changes with clarity and confidence.0:00 - Show Intro  0:35 - Episode Intro  2:08 - The Role of Oestrogen in Maintaining the Health of our Bladder and Vaginal Health5:50 - Thrush-Like Symptoms and the Importance of Testing  7:19 - Why Hormonal Changes can Increase the Risk of Infection  10:14 - Seeking Professional Help  12:02 - The Benefits of Vaginal HRT  14:24 - Supporting Vaginal and Urinary Health with Probiotics  19:13 - Tissue Integrity and Supporting Skin with Nutrients  19:48 - Omega-3 to Reduce Inflammation and Improve Tissue Hydration  20:39 - Staying Hydrated with Vaginal Moisturisers  21:27 - Effects of Lowering Oestrogen on the Pelvic Floor Muscles22:46 - Episode Outro  24:11 - Show Outro  If you prefer reading to audio, you might enjoy this blog post https://www.marycotternutrition.com/blog/ic-or-menopause Listen to episode 6 with Olivia Teahan for more tips on vaginal health, lubes and moisturisers.https://www.marycotternutrition.com/podcast/navigating-intimacy-and-utis Go deeper with Mary’s free ebook: How to Heal your Bladder with Food.‍Watch our free UTI training: "The Real Reason you Keep Getting UTIsand How to Find Lasting Relief (Without Another Prescription)", here.Explore our short course: Chronic UTIs: the Root Cause Reset, here. Follow Mary on Instagram: @marycotter.nutrition Visit our website: https://www.marycotternutrition.com/ Explore our 1-1 programme: the Heal your Bladder programme DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on marycotternutrition.com is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice from your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website.