Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Incontinence is a common and distressing problem, involving the frequent, urgent and often uncontrollable impulse to urinate. Incontinence is nothing to be ashamed of. It affects about 35% of the population over 60 years of age and there are twice as many women sufferers as men.

Incontinence is essentially due to a weakness of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and sphincter that control urinating. It's easiest to think of your bladder as a balloon, filled with water, with an elastic band tied around the opening to keep the water in. If the elastic band (muscle) is too loose or weak, any slight pressure placed on the balloon will result in water leaking out.

Loss of bladder control can be a frustrating and often embarrassing condition as normal daily movements that increase pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising, can result in the accidental leak of urine from the bladder.

Treatment

Before you add adult diapers or pads to your shopping list, there are effective ways of gaining control. These include:

• Pelvic floor muscle training, which strengthens the muscles of the pelvic floor that support the bladder and contribute to closing the urethra.

• Bladder training involves training your bladder to hold urine better. It involves urinating at set times (e.g. once every hour). If you manage to stay dry during this time, then you wait longer before going to the toilet (e.g. every one and a half hours).

• Pharmaceutical treatments, which stimulate increased contraction of the urethral sphincter, in turn preventing urine leakage.

• Surgery, which is usually indicated for patients with severe incontinence or in those who have had no success with other forms of treatment.

It's important that you consult with a doctor specializing in this field, such as an urologist or gynecologist that can recommend the best treatment for you.