Urinary incontinence is a medical condition that leads to loss of control of the bladder muscles leading to leakage of urine. The leakage of urine in incontinence affected people could be just a few drops or even emptying the whole bladder. Urinary incontinence is highly seen in women than men.
What are the types of urinary incontinence?
There are two major types of urinary incontinence, one is the stress incontinence and the other is the urge incontinence.
Stress urinary incontinence:
Stress incontinence as the name suggests it occurs when there is an external pressure on the urinary bladder. When people laugh, jump, or even sneeze a little amount of urine is leaked.
Urge incontinence:
In urge incontinence people may feel a sudden rush to go to the bathroom and before they even reach the toilet the urine is leaked. Consult a gynecologist in Coimbatore if you are experiencing urinary incontinence to find the right treatment plan.
Why are women at higher risk of developing urinary incontinence?
Women’s bodies undergo various events through their life making some changes in their body. Pregnancy and menopause can highly bring a lot of changes and may also affect the surrounding muscles of the pelvis or at times even the urinary bladder. When compared between men and women the urethra is comparatively shorter in women so when there is damage the impact can be immediate.
What might be the possible causes of urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a condition that occurs when the muscles and nerves surrounding the bladder and also the muscles that hold the urine. Generally most women experience incontinence due to pregnancy, menopause, and even childbirth may contribute to urinary incontinence.
Few other common causes of incontinence can include:
Constipation:
People with long term constipation can experience incontinence. When people with constipation strain a lot while passing stools it can lead to putting pressure on the urinary muscles and pelvis leading to incontinence.
Overweight:
Weighing a couple of kilos over the time can put pressure on the bladder muscles leading to urinary incontinence.
Damage to the nerves:
The bladder may receive messages incorrectly or not at all as a result of damaged nerves. The nerves that control the bladder, pelvic floor muscles, or urethra might become damaged as a result of childbirth or medical conditions including diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
What are the non-surgical treatment options for urinary incontinence?
Fortunately, there are many non-surgical approaches to managing women’s urinary incontinence. To build a treatment plan, you can get in touch with your doctor to discuss your options. Lifestyle changes are frequently the first step in treatments, and most of the changes and habits are recommended by the doctor.
The best non-surgical treatment options for urinary incontinence include:
Weight loss:
More than 40% fewer leakage episodes occur among women who are overweight (i.e., BMI >25) and who can decrease 8% of their body weight (i.e., 16 lbs for a 200 lb woman). If anything can spur you on to lose weight, make it this.
Pelvic Floor Exercises:
Pelvic floor exercises, or “Kegels,” are excellent for women to undertake to help treat UI. Imagine trying to stop the flow of urine as you complete a Kegel to ensure appropriate technique. To stop urinating, tense or tighten the muscles for five seconds, hold it, then release for five seconds. To progress to lasting for 10 seconds, try to perform three sets of 10 exercises daily.
If you have never performed Kegels exercise, you need to understand that performing them the right way can help in improving the condition significantly.
Bladder Training:
Another alternative for people seeking non-surgical stress urinary incontinence treatment is bladder training. Your bladder is retrained to hold more with the help of bladder training. It incorporates scheduled emptying in addition to particular urge-controlling techniques. Discuss the specifics of what type of bladder training is most effective for you with your doctor. The idea is to build up gradually so that you may exercise the muscle without putting it under too much strain.
Vaginal Devices:
An insert for the vagina that supports the urethra by adding pressure to it to counteract the pressure of coughing and prevent leaking is known as a vaginal insert device. Both over-the-counter and medical devices known as pessaries that you are fitted with are available. Normal urination shouldn’t be interfered with by the vaginal insert device.
Apart from the non-surgical treatments, surgical treatment is also offered called the mesh surgery. Talk to your gynecologist to know more about the procedure.
Can urinary incontinence be cured permanently?
Urinary incontinence can affect everyone, and the severity varies according to the age, cause, and the type of incontinence. With the right therapy, most cases of urinary incontinence can be completely cured or kept in control.
Is there a way to lead a normal life with urinary incontinence?
There are various methods for dealing with incontinence and returning to normal life. Urinary incontinence is generally not a condition but it is actually a symptom. Without treatment urinary incontinence can be embarrassing and also highly interfere with your life, reducing your quality of life. When the right care is given and proper lifestyle modifications are followed, incontinence can be cured or even managed to a significant extent.
Important Takeaway:
Speaking with your doctor about your toilet habits can be awkward. But you shouldn’t let your embarrassment stop you from addressing incontinence. Your healthcare practitioner may frequently assist in identifying the root cause of the bladder control problem and provide treatment options. Visit the best gynecology hospital in Coimbatore to know your options that help in treating the incontinence conditions without any medical intervention.
