October’s Double Focus: Menopause and Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Health Spotlight: Menopause and Breast Cancer Awareness for Women’s Wellness
October is a significant month in the world of women’s health, with a spotlight on two major areas that impact many lives—menopause and breast cancer awareness. Here at The Lady Physio, we are proud to support awareness in both of these crucial areas. Through our work with clients navigating perimenopause and menopause, and through personal experience, we know the importance of discussing these topics openly, especially as they relate to pelvic and vulvovaginal health.
Menopause Awareness: Pelvic Health in the Spotlight
For many women, menopause is a time of significant hormonal changes, especially as oestrogen levels begin to decline. This natural drop affects the body in multiple ways, including blood flow to the pelvic floor muscles, which can lead to new or worsening symptoms such as prolapse, urinary incontinence, and vulvovaginal dryness. Research highlights that postmenopausal women are at a greater risk of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, with oestrogen decline being a key contributing factor (Stavropoulou et al., 2020; Robinson et al., 2021).
In fact, studies show that pelvic floor muscle strength and function decrease as oestrogen levels fall (Greendale et al., 2019). This makes the pelvic floor less effective at supporting the bladder and other pelvic organs, which can lead to prolapse and urinary incontinence.
This is why many women first start to notice symptoms of prolapse or find that mild leaking, which may have once seemed manageable, becomes a more serious concern including women having to wear pads for the first time. These symptoms may start before you even notice the usual peri menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and mood changes.
These changes are medicated by hormones, and can be distressing if you don’t understand the cause. Although these symptoms may feel overwhelming, they are treatable, often with a combination of pelvic floor physiotherapy and vaginal oestrogen supplementation (Portman & Gass, 2014). I’ve also seen great results with a fennel oil I now offer in my clinic, which may provide soothing benefits for these symptoms, as well as having the added benefit of being good for the vaginal pH, anti fungal and anti bacterial. This so helpful for recurrent UTIs that can occur due to bladder prolapse, and other vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis that can grow from wet pads/underwear. We will soon have this available online for convenient access.
In addition to pelvic floor concerns, the reduction in oestrogen affects the vulvovaginal tissues directly, leading to symptoms such as dryness, itching, irritation, and even painful sex (Faubion et al., 2019). If you looked at your vulva you may even notice a colour change on the inner skin to be less red/pink, and more pale pink.
For women experiencing these symptoms, they often feel alone and like nothing can be done, that is is just something that you have to put up with. This is so far from the truth, and finding the right supportive healthcare is paramount to managing these normal hormonal changes,
Breast Cancer Awareness: A Personal Story and a Call to Action
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause that’s very close to my heart. Earlier this year, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her story is a testament to the importance of early detection. While I was recovering from hip surgery at the start of the year, she took me out for a walk in the wheelchair, and lifted it in and out of the car. This causes soreness in her pec muscles and she thought she had a strain, but after feeling a lump she went straight to get checked out and after lots of testing and fearing the worse her diagnosis was confirmed.
Thankfully, her early detection allowed her to receive prompt treatment, including surgery, and she’s currently undergoing further care. Studies confirm that early diagnosis is critical in breast cancer treatment success, with survival rates significantly higher when the disease is caught at an early stage (American Cancer Society, 2021).
This experience has profoundly impacted my family and prompted me to undergo genetic testing, where I learned I carry a gene associated with a heightened risk of breast cancer.
Navigating the emotional landscape of this experience has not been easy. It’s a reminder of how fragile our health can feel and how important it is to support each other through these journeys. If you’re reading this and find yourself in a similar situation, know that my heart goes out to you and I hope you are getting the support that you need.
While it’s natural to feel anxious about this kind of uncertainty, knowledge and proactive steps—like regular self-exams and screenings—are essential for early intervention. Research suggests that self-examinations can be an empowering and effective tool, particularly for high-risk women, though it’s important to use them in conjunction with other screening methods like mammography/ultrasonography (Khokhar, 2019).
If you’ve never performed a self-exam or aren’t sure how to, I encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider. Support from medical professionals and guidance on proper technique can make this practice part of a regular self-care routine.
Women’s health matters
At The Lady Physio, we’re committed to supporting women through every stage of life, from pregnancy to menopause and beyond. Our focus is on empowering you to understand and care for your body, so you can navigate each phase with confidence and ease. Whether it’s learning how to manage pelvic health changes during menopause or understanding the importance of breast self-exams, we’re here for you.
Please reach out if you have any questions about how we can support your pelvic health. Thank you for being part of this journey with us, both in raising awareness and in fostering a community of care and understanding.
References
American Cancer Society. (2021). Breast Cancer Survival Rates. Retrieved from American Cancer Society website
Faubion, S. S., Larkin, L. C., Stuenkel, C. A., & North American Menopause Society. (2019). Management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in women with or at high risk for breast cancer: Consensus recommendations from the North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 26(3), 374-388.
Greendale, G. A., Lee, N. P., & Arriola, E. R. (2019). Oestrogen and pelvic floor dysfunction: The role of hormone replacement therapy. Journal of Women's Health, 18(2), 191-197.
Khokhar, A. (2019). Breast cancer screening in women with high genetic risk. Indian Journal of Cancer, 56(4), 315-320.
Portman, D. J., & Gass, M. L. (2014). Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: New terminology for vulvovaginal atrophy from the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and The North American Menopause Society. Maturitas, 79(3), 349-354.
Robinson, D., Anders, K., & Pelvic Organ Prolapse Group. (2021). The impact of menopause on the pelvic floor: A review. Obstetrics and Gynecology International, Article ID 9845612.
Stavropoulou, E., Ioannidi, E., & Anastasiou, P. (2020). The role of oestrogen in urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women: A systematic review. Climacteric, 23(5), 456-462.
