Birmingham, AL residents ask, “What is urinary incontinence?”
Did you know that women are twice as likely to experience urinary incontinence as men? This is due to a combination of the composition of the female urinary tract, pregnancy or childbirth, and menopause. Of the cases of female urinary incontinence, the majority occurs in older woman, but women of any age can suffer from it.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
In simple terms, urinary incontinence happens because the muscles and nerves necessary to hold and release urine are not working properly. Our bodies store urine and waste from the kidneys in the bladder, and a tube called the Urethra is connected to it. Urine leaves the body through the Urethra.
During urination, the bladder muscles contract forcing the waste out of the bladder and through the urethra. While this is happening, the sphincter muscles begin to relax, which allows the urine to leave the body. Incontinence occurs if those muscles are not strong enough to hold the urine in, or suddenly contract. This can cause a urinary leakage.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress Incontinence – This occurs during movements like coughing, laughing, and even sneezing. The two most common causes of stress incontinence are pregnancy and menopause.
- Urge Incontinence – This occurs if you spontaneously lose urine, or feel sudden urges to urinate. One of the most common causes of urge incontinence is bladder spasms.
- Overactive Bladder – This occurs when the bladder muscles squeeze without warning. Women with overactive bladder urinate much more frequently than normal.
Diagnosing Urinary Incontinence
Dr. Roberts and her team will begin by discussing your symptoms along with medical and family history. You may be asked to fill out a journal to track your bladder pattern including the times you urinate and the amount produced over a period of several days. A physical exam will also be able to assess if there are any issues causing the incontinence like blockages or prolapses.
Occasionally bladder stress tests, urinalysis, and ultrasounds may be necessary to determine the cause of the incontinence.
Treating Urinary Incontinence
Effective treatment for incontinence depends largely on your specific type of incontinence. You may benefit from behavioral treatment, Kegel exercise, medication, vaginal devices, or a combination of treatments. Our team will be able to put together at treatment plan for you that will help treat your symptoms.
If you are in the Birmingham, AL area and are experiencing any of the signs of urinary incontinence, call us today to schedule an appointment.
