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You may find you need to go to the bathroom more often around menopause. And you may be more likely to get infections of your urinary tract (the parts that carry urine from your kidneys through your bladder and out of your body).

Some studies, but not all of them, have also found a link between menopause and a higher risk of urinary incontinence.¹ This is when you can't control when you urinate. Urine may leak out when you laugh or cough, or you might suddenly need to urinate.

Researchers think you get these problems when your estrogen levels drop. This can make the lining of your bladder and your urethra thinner. (The urethra is the tube that drains urine from the bladder.)¹ Also, lower levels of estrogen change the balance of bacteria in your vagina, and this can make urinary tract infections more likely.²

It's often difficult to talk about things like this with your doctor. Some women think that these problems are just a part of getting older. Many women don't go to their doctor for help.³ Therefore, it's difficult to know how common these problems are. One study estimated that 10 percent to 40 percent of all women who have gone through menopause have these symptoms.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.