I was recently interviewed by Emily Barclay, Founder of the Perimenopause Hub.
The following is the transcript of this interview where we discuss how perimenopause and menopause affects both bladder and pelvic health in women going through these transitions.
I recently chatted with Susan Farrell, about how a woman’s bladder and pelvic health are affected during perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
Welcome Susan to the Perimenopause Hub. Would you kindly introduce yourself to our audience?
Hi Emily, and thank you for having me on the Perimenopause Hub to address women’s issues which are near and dear to my heart.
I’m a board-certified nurse practitioner, a continence and pelvic floor biofeedback specialist, and a certified health coach.
I’ve also had additional training on biofeedback evaluation and treatment for bladder and bowel disorders, as well as pelvic floor disorders with a focus on complex pelvic floor cases.
And I’ve been honored to serve on the Project Advisory Council for the National Association for Continence here in the USA.
In my clinical practice I focused on common bladder control problems in women.
I’ve transitioned my clinical practice to essentially a virtual holistic health coaching practice where by using my evidence-based holistic health coaching method, I guide women with embarrassing bladder control problems to empower themselves to take back control of their bladder and life by helping them to create their own Your Healthy Bladder Solutions ProgramTM .
Since the Perimenopause Hub has an international audience, would you tell us what is a nurse practitioner?
Yes, of course. Here in the USA, I have a Master of Science degree in Nursing and I am licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
I have advanced clinical training beyond my initial professional registered nurse (RN) preparation. I'm also board-certified as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner.
What sets nurse practitioners apart from other health care providers is our unique emphasis on the health and well-being of the whole person.
With a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling, nurse practitioners guide patients in making smarter health and lifestyle choices, which in turn can lower patients' out-of-pocket costs.
As far as the actual practice, this may vary from state to state, but overall a nurse practitioner may practice autonomously and in collaboration with health care professionals.
Nurse practitioners provide a full range of primary, acute and specialty health care services, including:
Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests such as lab work and x-rays.
Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, infections and injuries.
Prescribing medications and other treatments.
Managing patients' overall care.
Educating patients on disease prevention and positive health and lifestyle choices.
How common are bladder control problems in women?
Great question Emily and I’d like to paint the picture of magnitude of this common women’s health problem.
There is a stigma surrounding bladder control problems in women. And it creates a silence among both women and health care professionals.
If urinary incontinence were a country, it would be the third largest in the world behind India and China.
This is a huge health problem that is severely under-reported.
Many women don’t ask for help from health professionals and many health professionals don’t ask women if they are having bladder control problems.
Wow, that's a lot of people. I never would've imagined this many.
Yes, and women are three times more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence than men.
Worldwide estimates are that urinary incontinence affects about 423 million people over the age of 20. This affects women about 303 million women and 121 million men
Of the 25 -30 million adult Americans suffering from some form of urinary incontinence, almost 75% of those are women.
One in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily. This number increases for women in their 40s, 50s and 60s
Between the ages of 18 and 44, approximately 24% of women experience incontinence.
Some estimates report that 43% of 50- to 64-year-old women suffer from incontinence. And for women 65 and older, this number is estimated to be over 50%.
And these numbers are likely to be even higher than reported.
On average, women wait about seven years before they seek professional help for their bladder control problems. But over 50% and possibly up to 75% never seek professional help.
Many women simply rely on coping strategies like using pads, wearing special underwear, limiting fluid consumption and wearing dark clothing to disguise signs of leakage.
Then they start a cycle of withdrawing from social interactions. And once a woman stops socializing, it's easy to see how the withdrawal can lead to depression.
Her bladder control problems start to control her life now.
Urinary incontinence leads to lower self-esteem, impaired well-being, and reduced sexuality compared to women without incontinence.
This affects relationships with their partner, family and friends, work.
Urinary incontinence affects all aspects of a woman’s life. In many ways this is a disability.
