Question

Urinary Incontinence - All You Should Know About It!

Dr.Vikky Ajwani · Accepted Answer

Urinary incontinence, commonly known as loss of bladder control can really cause embarrassment. The severity of this condition may range from once in a while leaky urine to the sudden and forceful urge to urinate, due to which you end up urinating before reaching the toilet.

Types of Urinary Incontinence:

Stress Incontinence: When you feel the urge to urinate due to sneezing, coughing, laughing or while doing physical exercise
Urge Incontinence: When you feel the urge to urinate, suddenly. This may occur during the day and even at night.
Functional Incontinence: When you cannot reach the toilet on time because of a physical or mental impairment.
Mixed Incontinence: When you involuntarily urinate due to more than one incontinence
Stress incontinence is the most common type in women. The activities which increase your risk, are:

You have had more than one pregnancy and vaginal delivery.

You have pelvic prolapse. This is when your bladder, urethra, or rectum slide into the vagina. Delivering a baby can cause nerve or tissue damage in the pelvic area. This can lead to pelvic prolapse months or years after delivery.

Female urinary stress incontinence is the involuntary release of urine during any physical activity that puts pressure on your bladder. This potentially embarrassing condition differs from general incontinence in that it happens when the body is under immediate physical stress. Activities that can put stress on your bladder include coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or bending over. This condition is particular to women, many of whom experience symptoms after muscles have been weakened due to a vaginal childbirth, following menopause, or during pregnancy.

Ensure that you consult a doctor:

If this condition hinders your day to day activities
If the urinary incontinence is the result of a serious underlying problem
Causes of Urinary Incontinence:

Urinary incontinence may be temporary or permanent. Causes for temporary incontinence are-

Alcohol
Caffeine and caffeinated drinks
Decaffeinated tea or coffee
Spicy and sugary foods
High intake of Vitamin B or C
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Constipation
Causes for Permanent Incontinence are:

Pregnancy
Childbirth
Old age
Menopause
Hysterectomy
Prostate cancer
Enlarged prostate
Neurological disorders
Complications:

Chronic urinary incontinence can lead to certain complications like:

Skin Problems: Skin rashes and infections can develop around the vaginal area, because of the constant wetness one feels. It may also cause sores.
Urinary Tract Infections: Urinary incontinence can also result in UTI
Impact on Personal and Social Life: Urinary incontinence can lead to great embarrassment, thus affecting the social and personal life of an individual.
Treatment for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence:

There are several types of treatment available. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medications, nonsurgical treatments, and surgeries.

Lifestyle Changes: Make regular trips to the restroom to reduce the chance of urine leakage. Drink fewer fluids and avoid activities such as jumping and running.
Medications: Medications that reduce bladder contractions.
Nonsurgical Treatments: Kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic muscles. Done regularly, these exercises can strengthen your muscles, allowing you to control when urine is released from your body.
Surgery:

If other treatments fail, you will have to go for surgical treatment. Types of surgery include:

injectable therapy, in which collagen is injected into your urethra to reduce incontinence
tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery, in which mesh is placed around the urethra to give it support
vaginal sling surgery, in which a sling is placed around the urethra to support it
anterior or para-vaginal vaginal repair surgery to repair a bladder that is bulging into the vaginal canal
retropubic suspension surgery to move the bladder and urethra back into their normal positions
Some doctors even try electrical stimulation and medication. When the condition is highly advanced interventional therapies and surgery is recommended.

Some interventional therapies are:

Bulking material injections
Botulinum toxin Type-A
Nerve stimulators

Urinary Incontinence (Ui) Health Feed

Urinary Incontinence - All You Should Know About It!

Hi, Urine moves properly then stop after 1 or 2 secs goes again. That is I have no continuous onetime urination. Any suggestion for proper urination other than drinking more water.

I am 23 year old why do I feel like peeing again just after peeing properly with no pain at all. Please suggest me.

I am 25 years old male, I am unmarried, last 6 month se urine problem hai, jab bhi main pani pita hu mujhe urine aa jati hai, sabse jyada dikkat sham ko Hone ke baad aati hai 1 ghut bhi pani pita hu to turant urineko jana padta hai, Please help me.

Stress Urinary Incontinence - How To Deal With It?

Hi sir, one hour two time continuously coming in urine and pain is there while going urine. Please suggest me.

Urinary Incontinence - How To Treat It?

My mother has an infection in urine and also she is suffering from leg swelling. She is taking medicines for blood pressure. Please suggest me.

I am suffering from urine protein for 8 months. What should I do? Please suggest to me.