Urinary Incontinence Treatment

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the uncontrollable leakage of urine due to old age, menopause or childbirth. In medical terms, urinary incontinence is known as urinary incontinence. Although it can occur at any age, it is more common in older ages. Urinary incontinence occurs when control over the urinary sphincter is lost or weakened. Urinary incontinence, which is the inability to prevent urine from leaking out, can develop due to coughing, stress or sneezing. Bladder control, pelvic floor and kegel exercises help prevent or reduce this condition.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

The common cause of urinary incontinence is weakening or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination. Diseases such as stones, infections and cancer that cause obstruction in the urinary tract and bladder, weakness in the muscles and tissues that support the urethra, neurological disorders that cause problems in nerve conduction affecting bladder control, urinary tract and vaginal infections are common causes of urinary incontinence.

What are the Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Women?

Causes of urinary incontinence in women include weakness of the pelvic floor muscles and hormonal changes due to menopause. In addition, urinary incontinence may also occur in situations such as postpartum, obesity, and unhealthy nutrition.

What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?

The main symptom of urinary incontinence is the inability to hold urine. This condition, seen as leaking or dripping urine, varies depending on the type. Urinary incontinence is frequently seen and occurs in the following situations:

• while exercising
• while coughing
• while laughing
• while sneezing
• Feeling pain when urinating
• If you have a frequent urge to urinate and
• Urinary incontinence may occur when having to get up at night (nocturia).

How is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed?

Before applying treatment for urinary incontinence, it is necessary to diagnose the type of urinary incontinence. The specialist doctor may request tests based on symptoms and physical examination. The following methods can be applied to diagnose urinary incontinence:

• Urinalysis: After taking a urine sample, the person is checked for signs of infection. Abnormalities are controlled.
• Bladder diary: Keeps a record of how much drink was consumed, when urinated, the amount of urine produced, whether there was a desire to urinate, and the number of urinary incontinence episodes over several days.
• Post-void residue measurement: After voiding into the urine measuring container, the amount of urine in the bladder is controlled with the help of ultrasound. Depending on the amount of urine remaining in the bladder, obstruction in the urinary tract or problems in the bladder muscles are detected.
• Cystoscopy: A cystoscope involves looking inside the urinary tract to check it. Thus, the urethra and bladder are displayed in detail.
• Urodynamics test: The urodynamics test checks how much urine the bladder can hold or how well it works.
• Pad test: The specialist doctor provides control by giving a pad to catch the escaping urine.

How to Treat Urinary Incontinence?

Treatment of urinary incontinence develops depending on the type of urination, its severity and the underlying cause. After examining the symptoms, the urinary incontinence treatment process begins. The specialist doctor may recommend the following treatment methods to the person:
Once the urge to urinate occurs, activities such as delaying urination can be done through bladder training. When you feel the urge to urinate, try to wait 10 minutes to prolong your urination time.
The double voiding technique can be used to completely empty the urine accumulated in the bladder. Double voiding involves waiting a few minutes after urinating and then trying again.
Nutrition and liquid methods to achieve urinary control are also among the treatments for urinary incontinence. Reducing fluid consumption in a controlled manner, losing weight or increasing physical activity is good for urinary incontinence.
Kegel exercise helps develop the muscles in the pelvic floor that cause urinary incontinence.
A specialist doctor may recommend medication for bladder problems. In addition, surgery is also among the treatments for urinary incontinence.