In this article we shall discuss another taboo topic that many women bear in secret which is Stress Urinary Incontinence in women – problems and solutions. Here are three scenarios that women with Urinary Incontinence face:
- A pregnant woman leaks urine every time she coughs or sneezes
- A lady who had a vaginal delivery seems to have the same problem even after delivery
- A lady can’t seem to go out to meet friends, to the mall or anywhere socially because she needs to rush to the loo every time, she gets the urge
3 different women, probably even different age groups yet bonded by a common problem. A problem so embarrassing that most women don’t even share it with their husbands or their gynecologists.
From a state of mind over matter, it becomes a state of mind over bladder. Your life thus revolves completely around the handicap. This my friends is what we call urinary incontinence.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
It is the loss of control over urination. It may be of 2 types:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence: wherein small to moderate amount of urine leaks without control. This happens during increases pressure on the bladder for example; coughing, sneezing or laughing.
- Urge Urinary Incontinence: results in moderate to a large leak of urine when the bladder suddenly contracts without control. The lady typically complains that when her bladder fills up and she gets the urge, the urine seems to leak even before she reaches the toilet. This happens because of an Overactive Bladder. Many people with SUI also have an Overactive bladder and this is called Mixed Incontinence.
Some alarming facts about SUI:
- About in 3 women suffer from SUI at some point in their lives
- About 50% of them will also have urge incontinence
- 30% of women undergoing vaginal delivery will develop SUI within 5 years of delivery
Causes of Urinary Incontinence in women
Urinary incontinence happens when there is a problem in the muscles that help your bladder in controlling and passing urine. The following contributing factors can cause Urinary Incontinence
- Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, affect the bladder, urethra, and other muscles that support these organs.
- Obesity
- Prolonged coughing
- Hormonal changes during menopause
- Constipation
- Nerve Damage
- Surgery
- Medications
- Caffeine
- Infections
Risk factors for developing SUI:
- Gender; females are more likely to develop SUI
- Vaginal delivery (more if forceps is used)
- Overweight
- Nerve injuries to the lower back
- A chronic cough
- Smoking
- Pelvic surgery
How does one gauge the severity of Urinary Incontinence?
As mentioned before, even in times of increased bladder pressure, the urine is not supposed to leak because of the muscles at the end of the urethra. However, because of weak muscles or loss of collagen, the sphincter becomes weak and the leak happens. The severity of the leak is quantified as follows:
- Grade 1: Leak happens on sudden forceful activities like sneezing, laughing or coughing
- Grade 2: Leak happens with less strenuous activities like standing up, walking or bending over.
- Grade 3: Leak happens even while lying down.The leaks can be restricted to a few drops or may wet the clothes.
How do I find out if I have urinary Incontinence?
You will need to come in for an evaluation wherein we will ask you to fill in a specialized chart of symptoms. This will be followed by an examination and some tests to determine the exact problem. This entire process may also involve a meeting with a Urologist.
How do you treat Urinary Incontinence in women?
There is a lot that needs to be said regarding the possible treatments for urinary Incontinence in women. I have discussed this in detail in another article which you can access here
Solutions for Urinary Incontinence in women in kolkata
Renovare clinic is the only clinic in kolkata that is equipped to provide effective solutions for Stress urinary incontinence in women. Renovare uses a combination of Exercise and a new revolutionary technology to give some semblance of normalcy to women with urinary incontinence.
Read more about it here
Watch Dr Rajeev talk about Stress Urinary Continence in women – Problems and Solutions.