Urinary Incontinence

Overview

Urinary incontinence is a condition in which there is inability to control one’s bladder. This problem can arise after passing through certain life events like childbirth or menopause, but is frequent among the elderly and women. This condition can we very humiliating and have a great impact on your social and mental wellbeing. That is why it is crucial to get a treatment on time.

Apart from childbirth and menopause, other possible causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic floor problems, and an enlarged prostate in men. Please keep reading to know more about urinary incontinence, its causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Everything You Need to Know About Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence | Symptoms | Causes | Treatment | Medications | Exercises and Equipment | Pessaries | Surgery | Conclusion

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary Incontinence is a daily-life issue that many individuals are affected by. Patients with incontinence may have problems with bladder control and leakage. As a result, this leakage might negatively influence their life.

To understand urinary incontinence, let’s understand some basics. The kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra make up your urinary system. These organs perform various tasks and together clean waste from your body. Having a well-functioning system ensures that you have enough time to use the restroom before peeing and there is no urine leakage. 

However, urinary incontinence may occur if one of these components cannot function properly. It might happen any time for various reasons.

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Symptoms

Urine leaking is the most common sign of urinary incontinence. There is a wide range of frequencies in this leakage. It could be a soak or a little squirt. Urge incontinence may lead to leaks during sleep.

Causes

Temporary or short-term incontinence causes include:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Urinary tract infections (infections of the urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidneys) may lead to discomfort and an increased urge to urinate. The need to urinate often is typically eliminated after treatment. Urine leakage is likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection if it is accompanied by:

1. Discoloration of your urine that is pink, crimson, or dark
2. The smell of urination
3. Back or abdominal discomfort
4. Urinating too often

If you experience such symptoms, consult our experts immediately. 

• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the uterus exerts more pressure on the bladder, which may cause urinary incontinence. After giving birth, incontinence is no longer an issue for most women who had it while pregnant.
• Medications: Certain drugs, such as diuretics and antidepressants, might cause incontinence as a side effect.
• Constipation: Chronic constipation (a firm, dry stool) may cause bladder control problems.

Chronic or long-term causes of incontinence include:

• Pelvic floor disorders: With pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, organs such as the bladder may be affected, including the ability to urinate.
• Diabetes: Because of diabetes, the amount of urine produced by the body is increased. The increased volume of pee might lead to leakage problems. The bladder may also be affected by peripheral neuropathy (damage or dysfunction of nerves).
• Menopause: Menopause is another phase in women’s bodies when hormone levels fluctuate fast. Their pelvic floor muscles get weaker as they become older.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): Your bladder may get irritated, resulting in leaks if you have multiple sclerosis.
• Enlarged prostate: Several problems with bladder control may arise when the prostate becomes bigger than it should. BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is another name for this disorder.

Treatment

When developing a treatment plan for your incontinence, your healthcare professional will consider a wide range of variables. It’s important to think about the sort of incontinence you have and how it affects your daily life.

Medications

Urge incontinence may be treated with a variety of drugs. Tolterodine and oxybutynin are the most regularly prescribed medications.

Moreover, antibiotics are given to women who have a UTI. Infection-caused incontinence is eliminated when the infection is cured.

Estrogen deficiency may induce atrophic vaginitis in certain post-menopausal women. Using vaginal oestrogen creams or pills may be beneficial for women. However, in women who do not suffer from atrophic vaginitis, oestrogen does not aid with urine incontinence.

Pelvic Muscle Strengthening Exercises and Equipment

Your doctor may recommend Kegel exercises and Cone-shaped weights. Before beginning pelvic muscle workouts, insert one of these cones into your vagina. It’s a great way to get the most out of Kegel exercises.

Pessaries

The uterus may prolapse into the vagina, bending the urethra and causing urine leaks. A pessary may be useful in certain situations. A pessary is a rubber ring that acts as a stabiliser for your uterus and prevents it from falling out of place. An OB-GYN may place it into a patient’s vagina that you have to wear at all times.

Surgery

A loss of support at the bladder neck is the most prevalent cause of stress incontinence in women. This condition may be treated surgically. When other therapies have failed, this option is often explored.

In this procedure, a sling of fibrous tissue or loops of suture material is placed around the urethra (bladder draining canal). This ensures that urinary tract does not fall or move out of place.

The surgery can be performed through a small cut above the pubic bone or vagina. A needle-shaped device may be utilised in various instances. The tool is introduced via the skin above the pubic bone or the front wall of the vagina after the pain-killing drug has been administered.

Conclusion

It might be awkward to discuss your restroom habits with your doctor. The good news is that your healthcare professional can assist you in determining the root cause of your bladder control problem and providing you with treatment options.

You don’t have to handle everything on your own. Make an appointment with our urinary incontinence experts to discuss the best treatment options.

Our Expert Team