Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common medical problem affecting many different people as they get older, experience high amounts of stress, or have a chronic medical condition. Urinary leakage can be embarrassing and can affect several aspects of a person’s life. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available to help alleviate symptoms.

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Causes

Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone at any age. However, some groups of people are more likely to struggle with urinary leakage than others. Older adults are more likely to experience urinary incontinence from weakening bladder muscles and not being able to make it to the bathroom when they have the urge to urinate.

Women also suffer more from urinary incontinence than men, particularly as they age. According to research, 51.1% of women experience loss of urinary control versus 13.9% of men. In addition, children also have trouble controlling their bladders as their pelvic muscles develop and strengthen.

Symptoms

Often, the type of incontinence a patient has is tied to the initial cause. The main symptom of incontinence is unintentional urinary leakage; when and how the patient experiences this correlates with the type of incontinence they have. There are six types of urinary continence:

  • Stress Incontinence: People with stress incontinence may leak urine when they laugh, sneeze, run, or lift things since these activities place pressure on the bladder.

  • Urge Incontinence: This type of incontinence is characterized by a sudden, intense need to urinate as soon as possible. It can result from an overactive bladder.

  • Mixed Incontinence: This is a combination of several issues that lead to urinary leakage. For example, a patient may have mixed incontinence if they undergo bodily stress and have an overactive bladder. This type of incontinence is most common among women.

  • Functional Incontinence: When someone experiences functional incontinence, they know that they need to urinate. However, they are unable to due to a disability or a mobility issue. This form of incontinence is common with the elderly and those with dementia, poor eyesight, or dexterity problems, such as cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease, making it harder for them to unbutton their pants.

  • Overflow Incontinence: Overflow incontinence is common in patients with problems in their prostate gland, a damaged bladder, or an obstructed urethra. If their prostate is enlarged, it can block the bladder. This type of incontinence typically means that the patient’s body produces more urine than the bladder can store or the bladder cannot completely empty, causing frequent urination or a constant “dribbling” sensation of urine from the urethra.

  • Total Incontinence: Total incontinence is when the patient continuously leaks urine. This could be due to a birth defect or an injury to the nervous system or the urinary system. They could also have a hole – also known as a fistula – between the bladder and another part of their pelvic organs.

TREATMENTS

Our team at Urology Medical Specialists considers several factors when creating a custom treatment plan for a patient experiencing UI. It depends on the type of incontinence they have, how it affects their daily routine, and their treatment goals. The three most common types of treatment are:

  • Lifestyle changes: There are everyday changes that a patient can make to help their incontinence. It could include urinating on a regular schedule, doing pelvic floor strengthening exercises, and changing their diet.

  • Medications: Several medications are available to reduce leakage and stabilize muscle contractions. Other medications can increase urination and empty the bladder completely. These medications can help the bladder return to its normal function.

  • Surgeries: If non-invasive treatment options fail to treat the patient’s incontinence, there are surgical procedures available. They can range from injections and bulking agents to inserting synthetic and artificial devices into the urinary system.

Urinary incontinence is sometimes a short-term condition that will go away after the cause and symptoms are treated. However, if a patient has a chronic condition, the incontinence may linger for a longer period of time. People experiencing symptoms should seek a proper diagnosis and treatment for their incontinence to prevent it from affecting their everyday life.