Hello and hey, 50+ friend!
Today I want to address the elephant that you may not even know is in the room.  It’s a giant, vagina shaped elephant, and we are taking a closer look at a topic that the bravest of us will joke about, but most of us don’t even want to mention.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, that elephant is light bladder leakage.
Or maybe even straight up bladder leakage, forget about the light part.  More technically speaking, your pelvic floor.  Pelvic floor issues can surface as bladder leakage, sharting (farts that contain a bit of poop), or painful sex.

No matter what you call it, it’s no joke!!!

Bladder leakage and your pelvic floor

Some of us are brave enough to make jokes about these issues.  How often have you heard someone say “I laughed so hard I peed a little!”; “I stop for dry sneezes!”; “I have to pee 5 times a night!”?
A lot goes on in our pelvic region.  This is where we get intimate, where babies are born, where we void waste of all kinds.  We don’t share or display this part of our body.
To avoid serious discussions about it, we give it cute names, like shum, hoo-hah, woo-woo, bizut, poo-nanny, the list goes on!

75% of women over the age of 65 have problems with their pelvic floor!

If you’re standing in a room with 4 women over 65, it’s likely that 3 of them have peed their pants (a little or a lot) on some occasion!
Due to under-reporting of this undesirable health issue, it’s even more likely that all of them have.  So by the time you’re over 50, you have a pretty good chance of having some problems “down there”. Women of all ages are affected, especially women who’ve had babies and female athletes.

Loving Care for your Down There

Now you have an idea of how prevalent pelvic floor issues are.  That doesn’t mean that you have to live with them, or allow them to get worse.    There is action to be taken!

Step 1: Consult with a pelvic floor physiotherapist.

This highly trained specialist will talk to you about your pelvic floor issues, can make helpful adjustments, and will provide you with exercises to gain and maintain pelvic health.

Step 2:  Do the exercises!

And when you start to notice improvement, keep doing them!  Do them for the rest of your life.

Step 3: If you’re working out with a personal trainer, let them know what exercises are problematic for you.

They can modify your workouts to accommodate your challenges, and will have some recommendations for you on how to incorporate pelvic floor health into your fitness routine.

Step 4: Talk to your friends about this important issue.

By sharing your experiences with others, you open the door for them to learn about and take action on their own issues.
Stay dry and comfortable, my friends!  Please share your questions and experiences below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Jennifer Gerard