Urinary Incontinence: Symptoms And Risk Factors

Health & Medical Blog

Urinary incontinence is something that a lot of people suffer from. It is more common in females than males. This is thought to be because the length of a female's urethra is shorter than a male's and because pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the muscles in the urinary tract. 

What Is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when someone leaks urine involuntarily. Someone suffering from urinary incontinence will have trouble controlling or have no control at all of when they urinate. If you're worried about urinary incontinence, there are some risk factors that increase your chance of experiencing it. 

Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence

As you get older, you may start to struggle more and more with urinary incontinence. 

Other risk factors can include:

• Weight
• Smoking
• Underlying diseases
• Prostate surgery
• Nerve damage

Suffering from urinary incontinence is not something to be ashamed of; it's part of life. However, there are certain signs and symptoms to look out for so you can be prepared. 

Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence

The obvious sign that you may be experiencing urinary incontinence is the leakage of urine, but there are a few other signs to look out for.

Other signs and symptoms can include:

• Wetting the bed at night
• Pressure in the pelvic area
• Frequent bathroom visits

If you start feeling frequent pressure in your pelvic area, this can create an urge to have to urinate. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it can be important to share this with your doctor. Urinary incontinence can usually mean there is an underlying disease. 

Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are a few different types of incontinence depending on when or how often you experience it. 

The types of urinary incontinence can include:

• Urge incontinence. You may experience this when changing positions or during intercourse. A contraction of the bladder's muscle wall can cause a sudden urge to urinate. 
• Stress incontinence. This can be caused by pressure from coughing, sneezing, or exercise. The pressure may cause you to suddenly urinate. 
• Overflow incontinence. Overflow incontinence occurs when someone's bladder is unable to hold as much urine that is being produced. This results in leakage and frequent urination. 
• Total incontinence. This usually means you're experiencing a constant or steady leakage. 

Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

Depending on the type of incontinence you suffer from and your overall health, it can be hard to treat urinary incontinence. However, you do have some options. Treatment options can include starting bladder training, doing Kegel exercises, taking medications, getting surgery, or having a catheter inserted.

Talk to your doctor to find out which treatment option is best for you and your incontinence. 

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20 December 2021