Urinary incontinence (uncontrolled loss of urine) is a very common problem affecting millions of women. This condition is frequently under-diagnosed and under-reported because it is such a sensitive issue. Studies show that approximately 25 percent of women in the United States between the ages of 30 and 59 deal with some form of urinary incontinence.
Although incontinence is not necessarily a natural part of aging, it can be the result of many years of changes in the body, especially in women. Common risk factors include childbirth, improper lifting of heavy objects at work and at home, chronic constipation, or the loss of estrogen after menopause. Some other risk factors include:
n Being older than 65
n Obesity
n Previous hysterectomy or urethral surgery
n Diabetes, stroke or Multiple Sclerosis
All of these factors over time can contribute to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles (the muscles that surround the openings of the urethra, vagina, and anus), leading to poor bladder control. This makes middle-aged or older women especially prone to this type of urinary incontinence.
Urge incontinence is a loss of bladder control following a strong urge to urinate. The person is not able to hold urine long enough to make it to a restroom. This is also known as overactive bladder. There are also some medications that may be prescribed to relax the bladder muscles and may help with urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence is characterized by the accidental loss of urine during a sudden movement such as coughing, sneezing, lifting or engaging in physical activity. Stress incontinence can be frustrating and embarrassing, causing women to limit their activity and lifestyle. For stress incontinence, many women get good results from using Kegel exercises and other behavioral and lifestyle changes, or medical devices called pessaries.
Physical therapists can use various methods to help clients correct pelvic floor weaknesses, including biofeedback techniques and electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles. For difficult-to-treat cases, surgery can help support weakened muscles related to bladder function. Newer surgical techniques are usually minimally invasive and offer quicker recovery times. Surgical treatment should only be considered only after thorough medical evaluation and determining the exact cause of a woman's urinary incontinence.
In most cases, incontinence can be successfully treated with non-surgical techniques. Unfortunately, many women suffer in silence with incontinence because they may be too embarrassed to discuss this problem with their physician or fearful that surgery is the only treatment option. Incontinence is not necessarily something that a person must learn to accept or just "live with."
Although incontinence is not necessarily a natural part of aging, it can be the result of many years of changes in the body, especially in women. Common risk factors include childbirth, improper lifting of heavy objects at work and at home, chronic constipation, or the loss of estrogen after menopause. Some other risk factors include:
n Being older than 65
n Obesity
n Previous hysterectomy or urethral surgery
n Diabetes, stroke or Multiple Sclerosis
All of these factors over time can contribute to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles (the muscles that surround the openings of the urethra, vagina, and anus), leading to poor bladder control. This makes middle-aged or older women especially prone to this type of urinary incontinence.
Urge incontinence is a loss of bladder control following a strong urge to urinate. The person is not able to hold urine long enough to make it to a restroom. This is also known as overactive bladder. There are also some medications that may be prescribed to relax the bladder muscles and may help with urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence is characterized by the accidental loss of urine during a sudden movement such as coughing, sneezing, lifting or engaging in physical activity. Stress incontinence can be frustrating and embarrassing, causing women to limit their activity and lifestyle. For stress incontinence, many women get good results from using Kegel exercises and other behavioral and lifestyle changes, or medical devices called pessaries.
Physical therapists can use various methods to help clients correct pelvic floor weaknesses, including biofeedback techniques and electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles. For difficult-to-treat cases, surgery can help support weakened muscles related to bladder function. Newer surgical techniques are usually minimally invasive and offer quicker recovery times. Surgical treatment should only be considered only after thorough medical evaluation and determining the exact cause of a woman's urinary incontinence.
In most cases, incontinence can be successfully treated with non-surgical techniques. Unfortunately, many women suffer in silence with incontinence because they may be too embarrassed to discuss this problem with their physician or fearful that surgery is the only treatment option. Incontinence is not necessarily something that a person must learn to accept or just "live with."
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