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 Health
5:50 - 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 Muscles
22:46 - 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 

Connect with Mary:

• Go deeper with Mary’s free ebook, How to Heal your Bladder with Food.‍
• Follow Mary on Instagram ‍ https://www.instagram.com/marycotter.nutrition/
• Mary’s website https://www.marycotternutrition.com/
• The Heal your Bladder programme https://www.marycotternutrition.com/heal-your-bladder
• Disclaimer

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.