The link between sexual and bladder health for women

Women who frequently experience UTIs or have urinary incontinence are more likely to avoid sex due to discomfort and/or embarrassment. — 123rf.com

Sexual health is a key component of one’s overall well-being.

Being sexually healthy impacts your overall quality of life and sense of self-worth.

With that said, it is important for women to take note of their bladder health, as this is closely linked to sexual health.

After all, sexual activity can affect bladder health, and bladder problems can conversely have a negative impact on your sexual life and health.

For example, urinary tract infections (UTIs) can frequently occur following sexual intercourse, as bacteria from the surrounding area can enter the urethra during sexual intercourse.

Women who suffer from frequent UTIs after sex might eventually avoid intercourse altogether as they might not want to deal with the pain and discomfort of a potential infection.

Urinating directly after sexual intercourse may help to reduce the risk of an UTI.

However, if you suffer from frequent infections after sex, there is also the option of using post-coital prophylaxis.

This is where you take a single, low-dose antibiotic to prevent a UTI from starting.

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Coming from the other direction, bladder health issues like urinary incontinence can result in decreased sexual function, with female patients often reporting a decline in sexual interest and sexual activity.

Urinary incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder and urination, can occur due to a few reasons.

Stress incontinence, due to weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, is where urine leakage occurs during activities like coughing, sneezing or exercise.

Alternatively, urge incontinence occurs due to an overactive bladder, causing a frequent, or even uncontrollable, urge to urinate.

Pregnancy can cause these conditions to occur, as childbirth can leave women with weakened pelvic floor muscles.

Incontinence can also affect women during midlife, especially those going through perimenopausal changes.

However, young women can also suffer from this condition.

Multiple studies have shown that urinary incontinence has a negative impact on sex life.

Women with urinary incontinence are more likely to avoid sex, and report less sexual desire and sexual satisfaction.

Having to deal with potential leakage of urine can be stressful, with those suffering from it often feeling embarrassed about this issue.

Thankfully, urinary incontinence can be treated.

The good news is that treatment has been shown to improve sexual health.

Some treatment options include pelvic floor muscle training, and depending on the type of incontinence, medication or surgical treatment is also available.

In addition, women who experience coital incontinence (incontinence during sex) can also try simple measures like voiding/emptying their bladder and cutting back on fluid intake before intercourse.

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If you find it difficult to talk about your sexual and/or bladder problems, know that there are many women out there facing the same problems as you.

You are not alone and you don’t need to suffer in silence.

Speak to your doctor about your symptoms, get the appropriate treatment and put a stop to such issues.

Dr Grace Huang is a general practitioner (GP) in Singapore. For more information, email starhealth@ thestar.com.my.