Urinary incontinence, or involuntary urination refers to a loss of bladder control that can be very embarrassing for people who suffer from it. It can be caused by diseases, medications, illness, pregnancy and childbirth, and menopause.
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. it usually happens when control over the urinary sphincter is lost or weakened. Generally, people think that incontinence is a normal part of ageing and that it cannot be helped. While ageing may be one of the common reasons for urinary incontinence, there may be other reasons for this problem. Seeking medical advice from the best urologists in Chennai can help you manage this condition so that it does not disrupt your life and keep you from being active. Read on to understand the types, causes, and treatment options for urinary incontinence.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
- Stress Incontinence: This happens when you experience urine leakage while sneezing coughing, laughing, exercising, or doing an activity that puts pressure on your bladder.
- Urge Incontinence: This is also known as overactive bladder (OAB) and it causes you to experience urine leakage after you feel a strong or sudden urge to go to the toilet. You may even feel the urge to go when you just hear or touch running water.
- Overflow Incontinence: This is more common in men and it happens when you are unable to empty your bladder. The problem usually occurs due to prostate gland issues, a damaged bladder, or a blocked urethra, leading to frequent leaking.
- Total Incontinence: This happens when your bladder is unable to store any urine at all, leading to you passing urine constantly or having frequent leaking.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be caused due to a variety of reasons. Some of the major causes are:
- Urinary Tract Infection: An infection in your urinary tract (urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidneys) can irritate your bladder and increase your need to pee more often.
- Pregnancy and Childbirth: During pregnancy, the uterus places extra pressure on the bladder as it expands leading to urinary incontinence. Further, giving birth can weaken the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in your pelvis leading to incontinence.
- Medications: Certain medications like diuretics or antidepressants can worsen incontinence.
- Prostate Problems: An enlarged prostate can cause several bladder control issues. This condition is also called prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions like diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis can lead to damaged nerves or muscles, triggering incontinence in some people.
- Menopause: Stress incontinence and OAB are more common during and after menopause. The drop in estrogen levels leads to this problem as estrogen is known to keep your bladder, urethra, and pelvic muscles healthy.
Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis
It is crucial to determine what type of urinary incontinence you have so that your doctor can come up with the right treatment plan. Your doctor will likely start with your medical history and physical exam. Once that is done, he/she will likely recommend:
- Urinalysis: A urine sample is taken to check signs of infection, traces of blood, or other abnormalities.
- Postvoid Residual Measurement: During the process, you are asked to urinate in a container that measures urine output. Once done, the doctor checks the amount of urine left in your bladder using a catheter or ultrasound test.
- Bladder Diary: The doctor will ask you to record your fluid intake, the number of times you urinate, the amount of urine produced, and the number of incontinence episodes.
Urinary Incontinence Treatments
The doctor will create a treatment plan depending on your symptoms and the condition causing the problems. Some major treatment options include:
- Conservative Treatment: This option does not involve medicines or surgery. The treatment options include:
- Lifestyle changes: Losing weight, altering your fluid intake, or reducing your caffeine intake.
- Kegel Exercises: This includes pelvic floor muscle training.
- Bladder Training: Using the bathroom at set times so that you can slowly get control over your bladder.
- Medication: Certain prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter drugs can calm muscles and nerves while also preventing bladder spasms.
- Nerve Stimulation: The method sends quick pulses of electricity to muscles around your bladder, which may help strengthen them.
- Surgery: Your doctor may suggest surgery if your symptoms are serious and other treatments are not working. The sling procedure is a common type of surgery used to treat urinary incontinence where a small ribbon of mesh is used to support the bladder.
- Devices: Certain devices can help you deal with the problem of urinary incontinence. A pessary is a ring that is inserted into your vagina to reposition your urethra to prevent leaks.
Conclusion
Discussing urine leakage with a doctor may be uncomfortable but if incontinence is frequent and is affecting the quality of your life, then it is important to seek medical advice. Apollo Hospital Vanagaram has some of the best urologists in Chennai, providing exceptional care and varied treatment options for urinary incontinence. Book your appointment today to ensure the best possible outcome for your health problems.
