Management of stress urinary incontinence associated with perimenopause

Storm, Susanne; MacVicar, Sonya

Abstract

Pelvic health physiotherapy is recommended as first-line treatment for those with lower urinary tract symptoms and pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic health physiotherapists treat a number of genitourinary conditions conservatively, including stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and vaginal atrophy. When physiotherapy management alone does not fully resolve symptoms, medication may be required. Independent prescribing enables the physiotherapist to maintain continuity of care, allowing a smoother, more effective patient journey. This offers quicker access to medicines and helps avoid delays in commencing appropriate treatment, reducing waiting times across other services. In this article, the role of the pelvic health physiotherapy independent prescriber is detailed in a case study of a patient referred with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence associated with impaired pelvic floor function and episodic constipation, in addition to perimenopausal vaginal dryness causing dyspareunia.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 10, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-02
• Deposit Date: Mar 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 11, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2631-8385
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 68-74
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2024.6.2.68
• Keywords: Pelvic health; physiotherapist; stress incontinence; non-medical prescribing; lactulose; Estradiol
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3560811