Female Urinary Incontinence: All you need to know

Female Urinary Incontinence: All you need to know

overview

Let me ask: Have you ever been in a situation where you leaked a bit of urine, probably right after you were sneezing, coughing, or laughing? The accidental leakage of urine can be embarrassing at times, which tends to stop people, especially women, from discussing it with their family members or their healthcare advisors. 

The involuntary or immediate leakage of urine is generally considered as urinary incontinence. It is a loss of urine control that does not let you hold it until you reach the washroom. As per the reports and Dr Elsa, the Best Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Dubai, urinary incontinence is a common symptom that occurs more often in women than in men and affects an overall 1 in 4 women. 

Types of Urinary Incontinence 

  • Urge incontinence

Often termed overactive bladder or OAB, it is common in people with certain conditions like diabetes, stroke, dementia, Parkinson's, etc. The condition of urge incontinence results in the need or urge to urinate immediately, which is difficult to control and can lead to leakage if the person does not go to the washroom. 

  • Stress incontinence

One of the most common types of urinary incontinence affecting mostly women is stress incontinence. The situation is said to happen when there is sudden pressure or muscle contraction on the bladder. For women, it occurs during exercising, weight lifting, sneezing, laughing, and others.

  • Functional incontinence

Often found in people with mobility issues or limitations, like elderly people or the disabled, functional incontinence is a situation when you have control over your urine but fail to find a restroom to urinate in.

  • Overflow incontinence

With a small symptom of urinating a small amount, overflow incontinence is a situation where there is a leakage of a small amount of urine due to an overfilled bladder. Overflow incontinence is considered to be more common in men than in women. 

Common Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence 

The symptoms of urinary incontinence are completely dependent on the type of UI a person has. Even though the most common symptoms to watch out for are: 

  1. inability to urinate properly

  1. Pain due to the overfilled bladder. 

  1. regular need to rush to the bathroom. 

  1. Abnormal urination 

  1. Frequent bladder infections

  1. Leakage during normal activities.

  1. Strong urge to urinate immediately. 

  1. Bed-wetting 

Common Causes of Urinary Incontinence 

The main cause of urinary incontinence depends on the type of UI a person is suffering from. 

Under Stress incontinence 

The common causes responsible are: 

  1. Pregnancy 

  1. Childbirth 

  1. Menopause 

  1. Ageing 

  1. Obesity 

Under Urge Incontinence 

This can result from the following: 

  1. Cystitis 

  1. Neuro problems 

  1. Enlarged prostate 

Under overflow incontinence 

These include the following factors:

  1. Urinary stones 

  1. Constipation 

  1. A tumour pressing on the bladder 

  1. Enlarged prostate gland 

Under other urinary incontinence 

This happens due to: 

  1. Urinary tract infection 

  1. Overactive bladder 

  1. Weakened pelvic floor muscles

  1. Side effects of surgery 

Medication or treatment options for urinary incontinence

Completely dependable on the sign and severeness of the problem, the treatment procedures and medications includes: 

  1. Medicines: The method includes the intake of specific therapy and medicines like solifenacin, Mirabegron, trospium, and others.
     

  2. Surgeries: The surgeries are performed when the medications and therapies are not working and the incontinence is severe.
     

  3. Diet changes: Switching to a healthy diet and avoiding the consumption of fluid intake can help.
     

  4. Pelvic muscle rehab: Includes Kegel exercises, biofeedback, vaginal weight training, and others this tends to improve pelvic muscle tone and prevent leakage.
     

  5. Behavioural therapies: Useful in regaining the bladder control behavioural therapies include bladder training and scheduling urinating. 

It is advised, especially to the woman, that if they are struggling and constantly suffering from the above-mentioned condition it is important to watch out for the symptoms and look for a doctor. For people residing in the nearby areas of Dubai, you can contact New Concept Clinic a Gynaecology Hospital in Dubai and look out for an appointment