What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a condition where a person involuntarily leaks urine. It can range from intermittent minor leaks to a chronic complete loss of bladder control. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as pelvic floor weakness, certain medical conditions, neurological disorders, medications, urinary tract infections.
There are several different types of urinary incontinence:
- Urge urinary incontinence – leakage with a sudden, unexpected need to urinate.
- Overactive bladder – leakage with a sudden, unexpected need to urinate accompanied by a frequent need to urinate as well.
- Stress urinary incontinence – urine leakage during any type of activity, such as coughing, sneezing, exercise, and intercourse.
- Mixed urinary incontinence – a mixture of both urge incontinence and stress incontinence.
What are treatment options for urinary incontinence?
There are multiple treatments available for urinary incontinence, including:
- Lifestyle changes
- Behavioral changes
- Bladder training
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Medications
- Procedures/Surgery (Bulking agents, Botox, PTNS, eCoin, Interstim, Sling)
It is important for individuals experiencing any type of urinary incontinence to speak to a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan that is best suited to their needs.