Urinary incontinence (UI) happens when you have trouble controlling your bladder. You may experience incontinence if you have an urgent need to pee, or you may leak urine between trips to the bathroom. Many women will experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. It is a common problem, and women are twice as likely to suffer from bladder control issues than men. UI can be a temporary or a chronic problem, but it can often be cured or controlled.
Talking to your doctor about urinary incontinence can be embarrassing, but it is an issue you should feel comfortable discussing with your gynecologist.
Two Main Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks as stress (or pressure) is put on the bladder. This could happen during regular exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or even lifting heavy objects. Any type of pressure or muscular contraction can cause leakage if a person has stress incontinence. Stress incontinence could be caused by weakening or damage of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and urethra, which can happen during or after pregnancy.
- Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder, is a constant feeling of needing to urinate. The person with urge incontinence always feels like their bladder is full, even when it is not, and it often results in an accident before they can reach a bathroom. Some causes of urge incontinence include neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Diabetes, alcohol, and some diuretic medications can also cause urge incontinence.
Although having one or two incidents of urine leakage can be embarrassing, it is not a definite sign of urinary incontinence. However, if the problem continues to occur more frequently, and impacts your quality of life, you should make sure to discuss the situation with your gynecologist.
If you’ve been having incidents, you may want to keep notes about each of them – including days, timing, the amount (is it a little bit or a lot), frequency, and any activities you may have been doing, like lifting something, to share with your doctor at your appointment.
Causes of Urine Loss
Some women develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy or after childbirth. Other women may develop symptoms during menopause or after a diagnosis of diabetes.
Additional causes of urinary incontinence include urinary tract infections, bladder cancers, obesity, and a C-section or pelvic floor surgery. It is important for you to discuss it with your gynecologist so you can receive the proper treatment, even if you think you know the cause.
Treatment Options
Depending on the type of UI you have and the severity of your case, there are a range of treatments your doctor may recommend. If your case of UI is mild, it may be helped with simple lifestyle changes such as adjusting your diet, bladder training, pelvic muscle exercises, or avoiding caffeinated drinks. Treatments for more serious bladder control issues may include medication or nerve stimulation.
Greenville Women’s Care has a full staff of trained, approachable gynecologists who are familiar with methods to retrain your bladder, medications that may help, or surgical intervention to stop urinary incontinence from interfering with your life. Let us help you enjoy a worry-free life again. Feel free to talk to our doctors about anything – we can help. Call 252-757-3131 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.