Many individuals suffer for many years from urinary incontinence and fail to seek medical attention as they consider this to be an embarrassing issue. The experience of uncontrollably leaking urine can be a difficult topic to discuss, but the good news is that in many instances this loss of bladder control can be corrected or minimised.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control – is a common disorder. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that is so sudden and strong you do not get to a toilet in time. Though it occurs more often as people get older, urinary incontinence is not an inevitable consequence of aging. If urinary incontinence affects your daily activities, do not hesitate to see your doctor. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
• stress incontinence – when urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough or laugh
• urge incontinence – when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards
• overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) – when you are unable to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking
• total incontinence – when your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or have frequent leaking
It is also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel-like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area (fistula).
Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:
• pregnancy and vaginal birth
• obesity
• a family history of incontinence
When should I see a doctor about incontinence?
It is important to know that urinary incontinence can be treated. Many people believe that it is something that just goes along with aging and is an unavoidable issue. If you find that incontinence is disturbing your daily activities, and causing you to miss out on things you typically enjoy, talk to your healthcare provider. There are a wide range of options to treat incontinence.
Diagnosis
Your doctor would carry out a history and examination and then arrange for a number of tests and investigations. There are also several specific tests that your doctor might do to diagnose incontinence. It is important to determine the type of urinary incontinence that the individual has. Your doctor might also refer you to a specialist doctor who manages patients with urinary incontinence.
How is incontinence treated?
There are many different factors that your doctor will consider when creating a treatment plan for your incontinence. The type of incontinence and the ways it affects your life are both big considerations. Your provider will also talk to you about the type of treatment you are most comfortable with. There are three main types of treatment you can explore for incontinence — medications, lifestyle changes and surgery. Each option has pros and cons that your doctor will discuss with you.
Lifestyle changes to manage incontinence
There are some individuals with incontinence that benefit from simple lifestyle changes. These changes often include exercises that you can do to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, changes to your normal habits and an improved diet. Other lifestyle changes such as losing weight, and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, have been shown to be beneficial as well.
Complications
Complications of chronic urinary incontinence include:
• Skin problems. Rashes, skin infections and sores can develop from constantly wet skin.
• Urinary tract infections. Incontinence increases your risk of repeated urinary tract infections.
• Impacts on your personal life. Urinary incontinence can affect your social, work and personal relationships.
Conclusion
Many individuals suffer from urinary incontinence and are very embarrassed about their disorder. Some are reluctant to seek medical attention. Individuals should know that there are effective treatments available for urinary incontinence. It is important to ask your doctor about treatment. You will be surprise about the number of treatment options now available for managing individuals with urinary incontinence.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
