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Bladder Infections
Why It's Happening:
Some postmenopausal women become prone to bladder infections due to losses in estrogen and changes in the vaginal pH and thinning of the vaginal mucus, writes Judith Reichman, M.D., a Los Angeles ob-gyn and author of I'm Too Young to Get Old: Health Care for Women After Forty (Times Books, 1997). With estrogen loss, Reichman writes, "the vaginal pH changes from a normally acidic low to a higher, more alkaline pH. This less acidic environment discourages the growth of one of our most important organisms, lactobacillus, which acts as a bacterial guard against abnormal flora." Once the bad flora multiply in mass amounts, they can cause vaginal discharge, itching and irritation. They can also rise into the urethral opening of the bladder, causing urinary tract infections.
What You Can Do:
Discuss with your doctor which of the standard remedies is right for you. This may include: hormonal therapy; taking lactobacillus supplements on an empty stomach to promote growth of positive bacteria; urination before and after sexual intercourse; and use of a vaginal lubricant before intercourse. Drinking cranberry juice and at least a quart of water a day is also recommended for prevention.
See These Related Resources:
Urinary tract infection: Overview
Talk about it in the Menopause forum
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