URINARY TRACT Symptoms Bothering You?
If you experience any type of pelvic pain, or vulvar discomforts, or chronic UTI’s…. getting a proper diagnosis is never as cut-and-dried as learning, say, that you have high blood pressure. What health practitioners now know: Chronic pelvic pain is rarely due to just one problem. And vulvar issues can come from many sources. Most women have three or more conditions, each of which adds to their overall discomfort… If you treat just one cause, the woman won’t get much better.
Even so, you still need to be your own educator and advocate. Here’s how to identify symptoms for the most common pelvic pain problems (such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and vulvodynia), and learn how they’re diagnosed, and most importantly, treated.
1. Endometriosis
Is it common? 5 million women have it.
What is endometriosis? Cells similar to the tissue lining the uterus migrate elsewhere and break down each month in sync with your period.
Telltale symptoms: Severe cramps, often coinciding with your menstrual cycle, that radiate to the lower back and leg.
How it’s diagnosed: Laparoscopy (a minimally invasive surgical procedure) to perform biopsies (removal of tissue samples for examination under a microscope).
Top “treatments”: Frontline medical remedies for endometriosis include NSAID drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, along with birth control pills and other hormones to shrink endometrial tissue. Your medical doctor may recommend minimally invasive surgery to remove or destroy endometrial growths or, in severe cases, a hysterectomy might be necessary. But none of those “treatments” get to the CAUSE of the problem.
We know in the holistic field that if you clean up your gut (remove food allergies and sensitivities, chemicals and fats), balance blood sugar, balance estrogen/progesterone hormones naturally and remove stress you can reverse most endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome cases.
2. Interstitial Cystitis
Is it common? New research shows that 3 million women have it.
What is interstitial cystitis? It involves recurring discomfort in the bladder, which may be caused by a breakdown of mucin, cells on the surface of the bladder that protect it from acidity.
Telltale symptoms: Women say interstitial cystitis (IC) is like the worst urinary tract infection they ever had, with burning or stabbing pains when their bladders are full and when they urinate, which some do—yikes!—as often as 60 times a day and night.
How it’s diagnosed: By ruling out other conditions that could cause the same symptoms. Your medical doctor will test your urine for bacteria to eliminate a urinary tract infection and use a thin, lighted instrument called a cystoscope to examine your bladder; a bladder wall biopsy may be needed to cross off cancer as a possibility.
Top treatments: medically … Elmiron, the first oral drug developed for IC, coats the bladder surface and may take 6 to 9 months to be totally effective. Medical Doctors have also had “some” success with antihistamines, a variety of tricyclic antidepressants (used for their antipain properties), antiseizure medications (increasingly prescribed for hard-to-treat pain), and other medications instilled directly into the bladder.
What we know in the holistic field is you MUST clean up your diet… removing chicken and eggs!
Where do bladder infections and inflammation come from? Back in the ‘70s, longitudinal studies of women over time showed that the movement of rectal bacteria up into the vaginal area preceded the appearance of those same types of bacteria in their urethra before they infected the bladder. But, it would be another 25 years before genetic fingerprinting techniques were able to confirm this so-called fecal-perineal-urethral theory—indicating that, indeed, it’s the “E. coli strains residing in the rectal flora [that] serve as a reservoir for urinary tract infections.”
Yet, it would be another 15 years still before we tracked it back another step, and figured out where that rectal reservoir of bladder-infecting E.coli was coming from—chicken.
Researchers were able to capture these extraintestinal (meaning outside of the gut), pathogenic, disease-causing E. coli straight from the slaughterhouse, to the meat, to the urine specimens obtained from infected women. We now have “proof of [a] direct link” between farm animals, meat, and bladder infections—”solid evidence that [urinary tract infections can be a] zoonosis.” Urinary tract infections as an animal-to-human disease. And, UTIs, we’re talking millions of women infected a year, costing over a billion dollars.
Even worse, the detection of multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli in chicken meat resistant to some of our most powerful antibiotics.
The best way to prevent bladder infections is the same way you best prevent all types of infections—by not getting infected in the first place. It’s not in all meat equally; beef and pork appear significantly less likely to harbor bladder-infecting strains than chicken.
More than 2,000 years ago Hippocrates said, “If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.” What does that mean when it comes to water? Water has been described as a neglected, underappreciated, and under-researched subject, but a lot of the papers extolling the need for proper hydration are funded by the bottled water industry. Turns out the often quoted “drink at least eight glasses of water a day” has little underpinning scientific evidence.
Where did they come up with that then? The recommendation was traced back to this 1921 paper, in which the author measured his own pee and sweat, and determined we lose about 3% of our body weight in water a day, which comes out to be about eight cups. Consequently, for the longest time, water requirement guidelines for humanity were based on just one person.
But now we have evidence suggesting not drinking enough water may be associated with falls and fractures, heatstroke, heart disease, lung disorders, kidney disease, kidney stones, bladder and colon cancer, urinary tract infections, constipation, dry mouth, cavities, decreased immune function, and cataract formation.
The problem with many of these studies, though, is that low water intake is associated with several unhealthy behaviors, such as low fruit and vegetable intake, more fast food, less shopping at farmers’ markets. And think about it—who drinks lots of water? Those that exercise a lot. So, it may be no wonder they have lower disease rates.
Only large and expensive randomized trials could settle these questions definitively. But given that water cannot be patented, such trials seem unlikely; who’s going to pay for them? So we’re left with studies that link disease with low water intake. But are people sick because they drink less, or are they drinking less because they’re sick? There have been a few large prospective studies in which fluid intake is measured before disease develops. For example, a Harvard study of 48,000 men found that the risk of bladder cancer decreased by 7% for every extra daily cup of fluid one may drink. So, a high intake of water—like eight cups a day, eight times seven, may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by about 50 percent, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Additionally: Try following a plan that excludes bladder-irritating foods such as coffee, tea, citrus fruit, hot peppers, and chocolate and increase your water!
3. Pelvic Floor Tension Myalgia
Is it common? Yes, but frequency is unknown.
What is pelvic floor tension myalgia? Many issues, both physical (such as difficult childbirth) and emotional, can lead to chronic tension in the pelvic floor muscles, which support your pelvic organs.
Telltale symptoms: A heaviness or achiness in the pelvis; burning, itching, and pain in the vagina or urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder).
How it’s diagnosed: Physical examination by an experienced pelvic pain practitioner.
Top treatments: The most effective treatments involve pelvic floor physical therapy. Think of it as a vagina workout: You’ll learn how to align your pelvis and do a core strengthening and stretching routine that helps prevent pelvic floor muscles from going into spasm. Botox injections may prevent spasms by temporarily relaxing the muscles. Trigger point injections of the anesthetic lidocaine relieve pain for some women.
4. Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Is it common? 7 million women have it.
What is pelvic congestion syndrome? Varicose veins in the pelvis cause pain. Like varicose veins in the leg, the valves in veins become weak and don’t close properly, so blood pools, causing painful pressure.
Telltale symptoms: A dull, aching, throbbing pain in the pelvis, often described as a “heavy” feeling. The pain is absent or mild in the morning and gets progressively worse throughout the day. It improves when you lie down or apply heat.
How it’s diagnosed: A special test called a transcervical venogram enables your physician to measure the size of the abnormal vein and its rate of blood flow.
Top treatments: Medical Doctors often first try a progestin (fake progesterone) hormone, which has been shown in studies to decrease pain and shrink the veins. If drugs fail to provide relief, embolization, a procedure that closes off problem veins, helps as many as 70% of women. If you don’t plan to become pregnant, a hysterectomy, in which the tubes and ovaries are removed along with the affected vein, has been shown to be the most effective therapy.
What we know in the holistic field is that using natural progesterone (identical to your human body’s production of this hormone) works wonders! We actually have you apply it directly to the abdomen. You should have your hormones checked with a saliva hormone test to determine exactly where your progesterone and estrogen levels are.
5. Vulvodynia
Is it common? 6 million women have it.
What is vulvodynia? Remember the episode of Sex and the City when Charlotte’s vagina was depressed? Yep, vulvodynia—which means chronic vulvar pain—was to blame. Although the causes of vulvodynia are unknown, experts speculate that previous yeast infections may make some women more susceptible to developing vulvodynia. Another possible cause: nerve damage caused by anything from horseback riding to childbirth. About 75% of women with vulvodynia suffer from vulvar vestibulitis—pain at the entry to the vagina.
Telltale symptoms: A persistent or intermittent burning or stinging in the vulva that may spread to your butt and upper thighs. Inserting a tampon, sitting, or even wearing your favorite jeans can bring it on. About 80% of women with the disorder have pain during sex.
How it’s diagnosed: The “cotton swab” test, in which doctors touch parts of the vulva to detect pain, helps identify vestibulitis. There is no test for vulvodynia; docs rely on an extensive exam, your health history, and tests to exclude other causes.
Top treatments: First remedies for vulvodynia include antiseizure drugs, antidepressants, and the topical anesthetic lidocaine. Some specialists have had success by compounding all of these drugs into a topical formula that’s applied directly to affected tissues… Surgery to remove nerve endings at the entrance to the vagina (the vestibule) helps up to 90% of women with vulvar vestibulitis, but it’s a last resort.
As you can see the medical route to handling vulvodynia is a bit drastic! Again… calming the body, balancing hormones, removing stress go a long way to supporting the vulva’s health.
Holistically we know that many times this issue is due to vaginal dryness and can easily be corrected with a little bio identical estrogen vaginally. We’ve seen women who have literal tears in their vulva tissue or stickiness and full feeling externally caused by lack or estrogen.
6. Lichen Sclerosis
Is it common? Depends on who you ask… one study suggests that it is an uncommon condition and another states that it IS common. What we know is that “reports” indicate it affects between 1 in 300 women (mostly women, though men can develop it also). An interesting Finnish study concluded the likelihood of getting lichen sclerosis (LS) by age 80 is 1.6%. That particular study was very enlightening… it showed that in 2003 … 14 per 100,000 women were diagnosed… in 2012… 22 per 100,000 women were diagnosed… so a pretty high increase in a few years. This is most likely due to women becoming more educated and aware of the potential issue. It is still frequently misdiagnosed, and many women may actually be asymptomatic (without symptoms) for years. The only true way to confirm a diagnosis is through a biopsy of the skin in the genital area.
What is LICHEN SCLEROSIS? It is considered a chronic inflammatory disease first described in 1881… and in 1976 adopted as an autoimmune disorder characterized by color change and genital skin atrophy. It can lead to scarring and extreme itching or burning and loss of structure literally losing the vaginal lips, etc due to atrophy).
How it’s diagnosed: The only true way to confirm a diagnosis is through a biopsy of the skin in the genital area. Many women mistakenly self diagnose it as a yeast infection or UTI based on “symptoms”. Its incidence in women has two peaks, the first one occurs between eight and thirteen-year-old girls and the second one is during the fifth and the sixth decades (50-60 years of age). Symptoms include: itching, scarring, white patches of tissue, burning, painful sex, redness, tearing or bleeding, ulcerated sores, discomfort or pain, urinary retention, and constipation and atrophy of tissues internal and external.
Top treatments: Because it is considered autoimmune there is no cure in the medical field. The aim of medical treatments are totally to relieve symptoms, stopping the atrophy, preventing scarring and the anatomical distortions that can occur, and doing what can be done to stop cancer from forming. The “treatments” include topical treatments, and even sometimes surgical procedures (all quite invasive and with side effects). For genital LS the gold standard treatment is 3 months application of a high potency topical steroid cream (clobetasol propionate). The second line treatments include phototherapy, ultrapotent topical steroids, tacrolimus ointment, systemic steroids and/or methotrexate. Some medical doctors also include topical testosterone creams or estrogen creams applied to the area or close surrounding tissues.
Holistically we know that the “disease” can actually resolve itself spontaneously as it normally does in children and has “no known cause” with zero cures! That gives us a clue that in adults the “solution” might be found in holistically handling the body to remove stressors or chronic viruses that contribute to its cause. We have found that balancing hormones naturally, repairing gut health (diet) and taking the following supplements has at the very least put the “disease” and its symptoms of itching, burning, throbbing pains and sensitive tissues into remission:
Artemisinin 400-600mg daily orally if tolerated well
D3 5000mg daily (based on testing)
Estrogen 1/2mg topically to vaginal tissue (2-4x weekly)
Testosterone 1/4mg topically 2-4x weekly to vaginal tissue (based on testing)
Probiotics Blend 50 – 100 Billion CFU total daily
Apply a cream such as ROSEBUD HONOR WOMAN (www.Rosewoman.com) daily
Removing all food sensitivities / allergies from the diet
7. BV or Bacterial Vaginosis
Have you experienced any of these symptoms?
Vaginal discharge: White, dull gray or greenish and/or foamy
Smells
Itching
Burning
Irritation
Discomfort in the vaginal area
Smell after sex
Sometimes vaginal pain
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of abnormal discharge in women. BV is even more common than thrush and affects approximately 1 in 10 women during their lifetime.
Bacterial Vaginosis occurs when the normal bacteria present in the vagina become out of balance. In our gut, we want a large diversity of bacteria, however in the vagina it is normal for one species, Lactobacilli, to be the predominant species.
Here are the key steps to restoring your vaginal ecology:
Balance your blood sugar with a whole food plant-based diet
Restore a healthy Microbiome – get your gut imbalance fixed naturally
Have smart Sex!
Don’t Douche and avoid all scented products… (soaps, toilet paper, menstrual products, etc.)
Balance your hormones naturally
A Natural BV Protocol
There are a variety of all-natural botanical interventions that can be effective against BV.
Here’s my daily protocol.
You’ll want to follow this for one week, and avoid sex (all forms) during this time:
-
- Make sure you’re getting zinc (30 mg/day),
- Vitamin E (400 IU/day),
- and vitamin A (up to 10,000 units/day, except in pregnancy when only up to what’s in your prenatal vitamin) in your diet
- A good multivitamin – these are essential for healing the vaginal tissue that gets irritated and inflamed in BV infections.
- Take 1 capsule of a good probiotic that is dairy free
- Each morning use a natural suppository of 250mg (enteric coated) of vitamin C for 6 days after your period.
- Eat a plant based diet (avoiding all saturated fats, added sugars, dairy, and chicken)
- Wear cotton panties and avoid all perfumed laundry detergents and body washes
The key to successful natural treatment? Remembering that optimal vaginal ecology depends on your whole-body ecology. So focus on nutrition (balanced blood sugar), gut health, hormonal and vaginal health!
8. URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
Over time, it’s estimated that vaginal estrogen can reduce your risk of UTIs by more than 75 percent! Shocking, isn’t it?
Instead of living on antibiotics which do untold harm to your gut, brain and immune system… just a bit of estrogen a few times a week vaginally can dramatically change your chances of contracting urinary infections.
Over 60% of women are impacted by UTIs in their lives, costing over $2 billion per year in the United States. Breakthrough infections even while on active antibiotic suppression are reported in 70% to 80% of recurrent UTI cases.
In women with hypoestrogenism, vaginal estrogen is considered the standard care for preventing recurrent UTI.
An imbalance of gut flora and vaginal flora can also contribute to frequent infections.
Telltale symptoms: the most common symptoms of UTI in women over 50 include
- Urgent need to urinate,
- A burning sensation during urination, the
- Feeling of a full bladder, dark or cloudy urine,
- Pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvis,
- Frequent falls
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Agitation or aggression
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Decreased appetite
An untreated UTI can spread to the kidneys, which is a more severe infection. UTIs can also lead to sepsis, which can be fatal. UTIs cause more than half the cases of urosepsis among older adults.
Reference
Tan-Kim J, Shah NM, Menefee SA. Efficacy of vaginal estrogen for recurrent urinary tract infection prevention in hypoestrogenic women. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2023;229(2):143.E1-143.E9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2023.05.002
How is it diagnosed? With a simple urinalysis done at your practitioner’s office (for extensive testing they might send you to a lab) or you can even purchase a kit at your local pharmacy to do at home.
TOP TREATMENTS? medically the main answer will be antibiotics
HOLISTICALLY we know that replacing what your body is lacking and doing so as naturally as possible is the ideal solution. Putting attention on gut health with correct probiotics is also going to be needed.
Adjusting your diet for a UTI involves more than introducing certain foods and drinks; it also means abstaining from things. Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple rule of thumb to follow: Avoid sugar for a UTI. Sugar is laced in an overwhelming amount of commercial foods and drinks these days. Unfortunately, it can also aggravate an infection. To cut back on these sugary delights and boost your care plan for a UTI, avoid:
- Carbohydrates
- Soda
- Alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor)
- Artificial sweeteners
Although there’s no evidence that artificial sweeteners can worsen a UTI, they have been shown to exacerbate bladder symptoms for individuals with chronic interstitial cystitis, so you may want to avoid them. Other foods and beverages to avoid with a UTI include:
- Spicy foods. Certain spicy foods can irritate the bladder. Instead, try sticking to a bland diet—like the “BRAT” diet—when you have a UTI.
- Citrus. Although they’re high in immunity-boosting vitamin C, highly acidic fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits can irritate your bladder and aggravate UTI symptoms.
- Caffeinated drinks. It’s important to stay hydrated when you have a UTI, but stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages. When in doubt, choose water!
Exercise and sweating by themselves will not cause the UTI to worsen. Most exercises are ok to do with a UTI, however if you find yourself on the barbell pushing out an overhead press, ensure that you breath throughout to reduce internal abdominal pressure and excessive downward pressure on the bladder. I would not recommend deadlifting or squats as the excessive hip flexing will inevitably increase pressure on the bladder. A lot of abdominal work can, once again, increases internal abdominal pressure. If you do find yourself doing exercises such as crunches and planks, ensure that you breathe deeply throughout to cut this pressure down to the minimum. Ideally avoid this area entirely until you are feeling better, there will be plenty of other opportunities to work on that six pack, give yourself a break. Try to avoid finishing off those never ending chores while still in your sweaty workout clothes. Gym clothes are often tight fitting and can lead to increased pressure on the pelvic area so washing and getting into looser fitting clothes sooner rather than later is the best solution. Damp sweaty clothes are also a perfect breeding ground for yeasts and other bugs which are the last thing you need when your pelvis is already on fire.
HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS FOR UTI’S:
- If needed add in vaginal estrogen applied directly internally; usually 1-2 gm per week
- Our UTI formula – https://thatshealth.com/shop/hormones/uti-support/ 1 scoop 4 to 5 X’s daily
- Multi Detox – https://thatshealth.com/shop/gastro/multi-detox/ 3-6 daily for 2-3 weeks
We utilize probiotics, a fabulous UTI formula powder for prevention and natural estrogens vaginally. Call our office for help.
9. URINARY INCONTINENCE
Urinary Incontinence is best defined as the involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder. This is a common problem typically among women over the age of 50. There are 4 types of urinary incontinence ranging from lack of physical mobility to coughing or sneezing being the cause of leakage. One of the causes of UI – Stress Incontinence to be exact – can be partially due to your pelvic floor and the strength, or lack thereof, that it possesses.
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that work to support the bladder, urination, and bowel function. When your pelvic floor muscles are weak, you are more likely to experience incontinence.
Some common causes of pelvic floor weakness include:
- Childbirth
- Constipation
- Consistent heavy lifting
- Excessive coughing
- Menopause and hormonal changes
Incontinence can lead to many other disparages when it comes to quality of living, so it’s important to educate yourself both on what could be causing your incontinence, and how to fix it.
Estrogen is a female hormone that plays a vital role in your body throughout your life. It’s responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle, maintaining bone density, and supporting overall vaginal and urinary tract health.
Within your urinary tract, estrogen helps keep the tissues healthy and flexible, promoting optimal function of both your bladder and urethra. Epidemiologic studies have proved that estrogens (specifically estradiol) deficiency causes lower urinary tract symptoms: incontinence and atrophy. (PMID: 14550837)
As you age, your estrogen levels decline significantly — especially during menopause. This hormonal shift can lead to a range of symptoms. A few of the most common? Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and urinary incontinence.
Low estrogen levels also contribute to weaker pelvic floor muscles and reduced elasticity in your urinary tract. These changes can make it more difficult to control your bladder, which can result in urine leakage.
Low estrogen levels can contribute to two main types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence develops when activity puts increased pressure on your bladder. A few examples of this are coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. In these cases, weak pelvic floor muscles are unable to provide proper support for your bladder, so urine may leak out.
Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder, happens when you feel a sudden and intense urge to urinate, followed by involuntary urine leakage. Low estrogen levels can irritate your bladder muscles, resulting in increased sensitivity and overactive bladder.
If vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence are your primary symptoms, topical estrogen therapy may be a good option for you. This treatment gives your body extra estrogen in the form of creams or rings.
These localized treatments provide estrogen directly to your vaginal tissues, helping restore moisture and elasticity.
Finally, some simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in managing urinary incontinence. We may recommend monitoring your fluid intake, avoiding bladder irritants like caffeine and alcohol, and scheduling regular bathroom breaks to empty your bladder.
Urinary incontinence can significantly impact your quality of life, but you don’t have to live with it. Maintaining hormonal balance during and after menopause helps improve the health and function of your urinary tract, and it could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
10. VAGINAL DRYNESS / VAGINAL ATROPHY
Yep… it happens. And it sucks! The “downtown” area literally starts to dry up and shrink. It’s not fun, and can be very painful when it comes to doing the wild thing with your partner.
So what drives this issue? lack of lubrication. If you don’t use it you lose it. But even when you use it a lot, as we age, it can STILL get VERY dry due to lack of estrogen in the “downtown area”. It’s interesting how the body works but what happens “downtown” is particular to that area. As you enter menopause (and for many even BEFORE menopause) lubrication stops or lessens… making sex something you want to avoid (not a good thing for relationships). You might notice itching or a “cottony” feeling between your legs, maybe more UTI’s are occurring, and an odor might make you wonder what the heck is happening down there… all coming from lack of estrogen vaginally (different that systemic levels ie. total body levels). Estrogen levels vaginally are totally different from estrogen topically or orally that goes systemic (throughout the whole body). Estrogen vaginally literally would stay in the “downtown” area ONLY… so it’s VERY safe to use and typically does not cause any symptoms systemically.
Some women might even notice that their vaginal “lips” have shrunk or disappeared altogether. This can make her feel less than woman! This is where using estradiol and even testosterone vaginally is a great solution.
Did you know that women actually have MORE testosterone than they do estrogen in their bodies? Look… God’s not stupid… he gave it to us for a reason. It only makes sense that we keep it going throughout our whole lives for optimal health.
Call our office for more specific help: 337-989-0572
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Legal: The information provided is not intended as a means of diagnosis or treating illness or as a replacement for any medicine or advice from a competent physician. Individuals having serious health problems should consult a competent licensed physician specializing in their condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. We assume no responsibility for anyone choosing to self-administer any suggestions in this publication; they do so on their own determinism. The information in this publication is for educational purposes only.
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