• Menopause
• Women's Health

Can You Treat Urinary Incontinence After Menopause?

Published: September 17, 2025
Updated: September 17, 2025
4 mins

During menopause, the pelvic muscles and tissues can weaken over time. This occurs from a combination of factors, including estrogen deficiency (low estrogen levels), metabolic shifts, and changes in your overall health. Postmenopausal women are the most likely to have urinary incontinence. However, urinary incontinence is not always connected to menopause.

Urinary incontinence is the loss of control of your bladder.  Men and women of any age may experience it, but it’s often more common in elderly individuals. Those with urinary incontinence may have to go to the bathroom more frequently or be mindful about accidental leakage throughout the day. Fortunately, there are many options for treatment regardless of what’s causing your incontinence.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence After Menopause?

Estrogen deficiency is the main cause of urinary incontinence after menopause. However, it’s not the only potential cause of incontinence.

The following health conditions may increase your risk of urinary incontinence:

Overactive bladder: Bladder muscles contract even when there may be only a small amount of urine present.

Pelvic organ prolapse: After giving birth, stress on the body can cause pelvic organs to drop down into the vagina. 

What are the Different Types of Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence symptoms may vary depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have. A healthcare provider may diagnose you with one of the following types of urinary incontinence:

• Stress urinary incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when the smallest physical movements can cause urine leakage. For example, laughing a lot, coughing, or being unexpectedly shoved may put pressure on the bladder.

• Urge incontinence: Also known as overactive bladder, it’s the constant feeling of having to go to the bathroom even if you don’t actually have to go. Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and stroke can increase your risk of urge incontinence.

• Mixed urinary incontinence: Women may experience a combination of both stress and urge incontinence symptoms. Men who have had their prostate removed may experience mixed urinary incontinence.

• Overflow urinary incontinence: Those with damage to the bladder may experience overflow urinary incontinence. It often occurs from a blockage to urine flow. With overflow urinary incontinence, there is a risk of the bladder distending (overfilling).

Who is Most at Risk for Postmenopausal Urinary Incontinence?

Elderly women over the age of 60 are more at risk of developing urinary incontinence than men and younger women. After menopause, pelvic muscles may weaken over time. While it’s rare, some women may experience urinary incontinence in their 40s and 50s.

Women have a shorter urethra than men, which may make them more likely to experience urinary incontinence. Any damage to the female urethra is more likely to cause urinary incontinence than slight damage to the male urethra.

Tips for Preventing Urinary Incontinence After Menopause

Before prescribing you medication, a healthcare provider may recommend incorporating lifestyle changes to manage urinary incontinence. For example, a healthcare provider may recommend training your bladder. If waking up in the middle of the night is disrupting your quality of life, consider using the bathroom at set times throughout the day consistently. This may prevent urine leakage throughout the day as well.

Pelvic floor exercises may also help to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Kegel exercises (tightening and relaxing pelvic muscles) may help prevent urine leakage by making them stronger. However, consider speaking with a healthcare provider if you experience any pain while doing Kegel exercises. In some cases, Kegel exercises may worsen severe urinary incontinence in some people.

Consider the following additional tips to manage urinary incontinence:

• Eat a diet rich in fiber

• Reduce your alcohol intake

• Consume less caffeine

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Stay consistent with medications

How to Treat Urinary Incontinence After Menopause

If lifestyle changes don’t improve your symptoms, a healthcare provider will recommend treatment. Fortunately, urinary incontinence during premenopause and postmenopause is reversible. 

A healthcare provider may prescribe the following medications to help relax the bladder:

• Beta-3 agonists

• Anticholinergics

• Tricycyclic antidepressants

• Botulinum toxin A (Botox)

• Alpha blockers

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help improve estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. You can receive local estrogen through a patch, gel, cream, vaginal ring, or oral tablet. Higher estrogen levels may help strengthen pelvic muscles. HRT can also relieve other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and mood swings. 

However, HRT may not be the best method of treatment for everyone. In some cases, HRT may worsen incontinence. Reach out to a licensed healthcare provider about how HRT may work for you based on your personal health profile.

For those with overflow incontinence, a healthcare provider may use a catheter to help you empty your bladder. Postmenopausal women may use a pessary (soft plastic vaginal device) to prevent urine leakage by supporting the urethra. A healthcare provider may recommend getting surgery if no other methods work.

How to Talk to a Healthcare Provider About Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is not the easiest topic to bring up with anyone, including your healthcare provider. However, there’s no reason to feel embarrassed. More people are managing urinary incontinence every day than you may realize. The sooner you see a healthcare provider, the faster you can receive the support you need to improve your daily life.

Before your appointment, write down how often you need to use the restroom, any recent dietary changes, and other symptoms you may be experiencing. This way, you can give your healthcare provider as much information as possible about the treatment you need.

Where Can I Learn More About Menopausal Care?

LifeMD provides resources for pre- and postmenopausal women to live fully while managing menopause. The LifeMD Women’s Health Program offers quality testing and lab options for menopause and other women’s health concerns. With LifeMD, you can receive medical guidance from licensed healthcare professionals and prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy, if you qualify.

Get started today to learn more about how you can improve your symptoms.