Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine when individuals lose control of their bladder. Most people find it embarrassing and are scared to speak out about it. However, according to studies, it affects about 17 million adults, with the highest percentage being women. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Most of these conditions are easily treatable. Book an appointment online with Nathalie Gutierrez-Prieto OBGYN to discuss the best approach to solve your problem. Take a step now, and regain your life’s quality.

What are the most common types of incontinence?

• Stress incontinence: This type of urinary incontinence is common among women who have had vaginal deliveries. It is triggered when an individual laughs, sneezes, bends, lifts, or coughs. When such activities occur, they trigger urine leaks.
• Overflow incontinence: Occurs when an individual urinates frequently and cannot empty the bladder due to certain factors. Overflow incontinence results in dribbling urine.
• Urge incontinence: This type of incontinence affects both women and men. It occurs when there is an extreme urgency to urinate, forcing urine to flow out uncontrollably.
• Functional incontinence: Occurs when an individual has a medical or physical condition that prevents them from getting to the washroom on time. It mostly affects older people.
• Mixed incontinence: It is the situation when a person experiences more than one form of incontinence.

What causes incontinence?

1. Obesity

The excess weight in people living with obesity exerts more pressure on the bladder, weakening the muscles. Too much pressure for longer periods reduces the bladder’s ability to hold urine, which causes urinary incontinence.

2. Pregnancy

Like obesity, weight gained during the second and third trimester of pregnancy exerts excess pressure on the bladder muscles. In turn, this reduces its ability to hold urine causing stress incontinence.

3. Constipation

Short term constipation is not problematic, but long term constipation could cause trouble when controlling the bladder. This is because too much stress when individuals strain during bowel movements could, in turn, stress bladder muscles. It is the repeated straining that results in incontinence.

4. Surgery

Surgery is a corrective procedure that is meant to improve body systems. However, complications may harm pelvic muscles, especially a hysterectomy. With dysfunctional pelvic muscles, the patient will most certainly have problems with bladder control.

5. Childbirth

Women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries have higher chances of developing incontinence than those who have a caesarian section. This is because childbirth may weaken pelvic muscles and damage bladder nerves, causing incontinence. Childbirth also causes pelvic organ prolapse that pushes the bladder down to the vaginal canal, causing incontinence.

6. Medications

Medications of certain conditions have a side effect that results in incontinence. Luckily, this form of incontinence is temporary and should go away when you stop using the treatments. Examples of these medications include kidney and liver treatment drugs.

Urinary incontinence could also be caused by old age, menopause, and obstructions in the urinary tract. Depending on the cause, doctors determine the right treatment method for the condition. If you often experience uncontrollable urine leakages, book an appointment with Women’s Healthcare Physicians of Naples for personalized care. 

Joyce Laroche