Why Women’s Health Needs a Lifespan Approach
Women’s health is often talked about in short stages. Pregnancy. Menopause. Aging. But the body does not work in isolated chapters. What happens in your 20s, 30s, and 40s directly affects how your body copes later in life.
A lifespan approach to women’s health looks at how muscles, bones, hormones, and the pelvic floor change over time — and how we can support them early, rather than waiting for problems to appear.
Your body is always adapting
Bone strength, muscle mass, and pelvic floor support peak earlier than many women realise. Most women reach peak bone mass by their late 20s or early 30s (NIH, 2023). After this, bone strength slowly declines. Hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause can speed up this process.
This does not mean decline is unavoidable. It means what you do earlier matters.
Pelvic health is not just about pregnancy
Many women associate pelvic floor problems with childbirth. While pregnancy and delivery can increase risk, bladder leakage, prolapse, and pelvic pain can also occur in women who have never had children (Milsom et al., 2019).
Pelvic floor health is influenced by:
- Strength and coordination of muscles
- Hormonal changes
- Load from exercise and daily life
- Chronic habits such as breath holding or constipation
Addressing pelvic health early improves long-term outcomes and reduces the risk of symptoms later in life.
Hormones affect more than periods
Hormones influence bone density, muscle recovery, joint health, bladder control, and even tendon strength. During perimenopause, fluctuating oestrogen levels can affect how tissues respond to load and exercise (Dalal & Agarwal, 2015).
Women who understand these changes are better able to adapt training, recovery, and lifestyle habits — rather than stopping exercise altogether.
Why early action matters
Waiting until pain, leaking, or fractures occur limits options. A proactive approach focuses on:
- Progressive strength training
- Pelvic floor assessment when needed
- Education around hormonal changes
- Safe progression of impact and load
This approach supports confidence, independence, and quality of life as women age.
The take-home message
Women’s health is not about fixing problems when they arise. It is about building capacity early so the body is better prepared for the changes that come with time.
Looking after your bones, muscles, and pelvic floor now is an investment in your future health.
References
Dalal, P. K., & Agarwal, M. (2015). Postmenopausal syndrome. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(Suppl 2), S222–S232.
Milsom, I., et al. (2019). Epidemiology of urinary incontinence. Nature Reviews Urology, 16(8), 415–435.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2023). Bone health and osteoporosis.