Are you going to the bathroom more frequently than you used to or is your bladder waking you up at night? Are you worried about bladder leaks when you laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise? Are you increasingly finding that overwhelming urgency seems to come out of nowhere and you barely make it to the bathroom in time? Are you noticing your sexual functioning is not what it used to be?
Typically, urinary incontinence and other symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction develop slowly and gradually, but left unchecked, they can start to take over your life.
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Social outings require planning and mapping of available bathrooms. Exercise—and even intimacy—start to be avoided because they feel too risky. Travel becomes stressful rather than enjoyable. Nights are interrupted by repeated trips to the bathroom, leaving you exhausted the next day. Slowly, your world begins to shrink.
For nearly 50% of those over age 50, these scenarios are not hypothetical—they are, or may become, part of daily life.
“Our muscles naturally become weaker as we age, and the pelvic floor muscles are particularly vulnerable because most of us are completely unaware that we have them until we start to have one or more of the many bothersome symptoms that result from a weak pelvic floor” says Sigrun Watson – owner of UROSPOT Pelvic Health Clinic in Winnipeg. “Typically we are advised to try Kegel exercises at this point, but by the time we have symptoms, the muscles are already weak and it can be really hard to contract them yourself in any meaningful way, which can mean a lot of effort for very little benefit.”
Women are at the Highest Risk
Pregnancy and childbirth place enormous strain on the pelvic floor. If the pelvic floor muscles are not strengthened after childbirth as part of post-partum recovery, urinary incontinence and other issues often result. Professions like nursing, teaching or caregiving where women need to stand for long periods, delay bathroom breaks, and put others’ needs ahead of their own can significantly increase the risks.
Perimenopause and menopause can be particularly important turning points, because declining estrogen affects muscle bulk, tissue thickness and elasticity. As pelvic floor tissues weaken, structural support and neuromuscular control can decline, allowing previously mild symptoms to become much more disruptive. “At this point, symptoms that have been relatively mild can often worsen to the point that they atart toseriously interfere with everyday life” Watson says.
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Pelvic organ prolapse is another common consequence of weak pelvic floor muscles, where weakened pelvic floor support allows organs such as the bladder, uterus or rectum to descend. In advanced cases, surgical correction may be required.
Later in life, worsening incontinence and impaired balance resulting from weak pelvic floor muscles contributes to falls and hip fractures, as well as the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Other factors that can take a significant toll on pelvic floor muscle strength include chronic constipation, chronic cough or sneezing associated with allergies, obesity and even chronic anxiety. Because symptoms appear gradually, by the time many seek help, they have been coping silently for years.
Strengthening the Pelvic Floor—Without Endless Kegels, Internal Exams, Side Effects, or Recovery Time
UROSPOT is Canada’s largest pelvic health provider, with 26 locations and growing across Canada. UROSPOT does pelvic health differently – there is no internal exam and nothing goes inside your body. Instead, clients sit fully clothed in a chair (often referred to as “the Kegel Throne”) that delivers pain-free pulses of electromagnetic energy, producing the equivalent of approximately 11,000 “supramaximal” Kegel contractions in less than 30 minutes. “It doesn’t hurt – and most people are delighted when they try the chair because they can feel how it will definitely work for them” says Watson.
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The pelvic floor muscles must be strong to support normal bladder, bowel, and sexual functioning, and these muscles are also critical contributors to posture, balance and core stability. The chair rapidly strengthens the pelvic floor and improves coordination between the brain, bladder and pelvic floor muscles. It is used to address symptoms like bladder leakage, urgency, frequency, night waking, sexual dysfunction and pelvic organ prolapse.
Medications for incontinence often have limited effect with bothersome side effects. Surgery can provide symptom relief, but it is invasive and carries recognized risks. Outcomes may also decline over time, with some patients experiencing recurrent symptoms or requiring additional procedures. Pelvic floor muscle training is therefore widely recognized as a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence and can reduce symptom severity while potentially delaying or avoiding surgery.
Bringing The UROSPOT Pelvic Floor Revolution to Winnipeg
Sigrun Watson brought UROSPOT to Winnipeg after decades working in healthcare and developing a particular interest in prevention and women’s health. While consulting for a virtual menopause-care provider, she discovered UROSPOT, a growing Canadian company focused on pelvic health, and saw an opportunity to address a significant gap in local care.
“Until recently, apart from relying on people to learn to contract these muscles themselves, our options were limited,”
“The technology we use is approved by Health Canada for pelvic floor rehabilitation. It works by stimulating the pelvic floor muscles to do supramaximal contractions—far stronger than the body can do on its own” Watson says.
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UROSPOT combines technology with education and health coaching through a model developed by pelvic floor physiotherapists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Following a complimentary personalized assessment, clients receive an individualized treatment and education plan designed to improve pelvic floor strength and neuromuscular control.
The result: In the studies, 95% saw a significant increase in quality of life. Fewer leaks, fewer urgent bathroom trips, better sleep, greater confidence and improved intimacy.
A typical treatment program consists of six sessions over three weeks, followed by maintenance treatments every four to eight months. There are no side effects or downtime, and clinical studies report that 95% of patients experience improved quality of life, while nearly 70% eliminate or significantly reduce their reliance on incontinence products.
Pelvic Health Is Not Just a Women’s Issue
UROSPOT also treats men experiencing pelvic-floor-related concerns, including urinary urgency and frequency, night waking and changes in sexual function. “This technology can do wonders for men experiencing sexual functioning declines, as well as bothersome frequency and urgency during the day or throughout the night,” Watson says.
For Watson, however, treatment is only part of the mission. “We’re doing a lot of awareness building because we want to bring pelvic health out into the open and start a conversation,” she says. “Too many people suffer in silence. These symptoms are extremely common, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept losing our quality of life because of them.”
To learn more or book a complimentary consultation and free “Kegel Throne” trial, visit urospot.com/winnipeg.
UROSPOT Winnipeg
556 Academy Road
Winnipeg, MB
(204) 318-8866
winnipeg@urospot.com
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