Shift Work and Disrupted Body Clocks May Increase Urinary Incontinence

Circadian misalignment may influence pelvic floor dysfunction in women exposed to night-shift work.

• Pelvic floor dysfunction affects a significant number of women and leads to symptoms like urinary incontinence.
• The health of the pelvic floor relies on the interplay between muscles, hormones, and the nervous system.
• Disruption of circadian rhythms could affect pelvic floor physiology by suppressing melatonin and dysregulating cortisol.
• Chronic stress from shift work may activate inflammatory processes linked to pelvic floor dysfunction.
• The review emphasizes the need to understand the connections between hormonal imbalance and pelvic floor health.

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