Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Melis Koçer Yazıcı said, “Urinary incontinence is an important problem that women are ashamed of and hide, and for which they hesitate to go to the doctor” and offered solutions for this problem that impairs the quality of life due to its social and psychological effects.

Involuntary urinary incontinence or urinary incontinence is usually seen as a normal condition among women and can be ignored or hidden. However, if this condition recurs continuously, it is considered a disease. Yeditepe University Hospitals Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Lecturer Dr. Melis Koçer Yazıcı explained the solutions to this problem, which is more common in women than men…

There are Different Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are many types of urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is urinary incontinence that develops in situations such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, and lifting heavy objects. It is due to nerve and muscle weakness. In urgent urinary incontinence, the patient suddenly urinates and leaks urine uncontrollably. Overflow urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of excess urine into the bladder in the form of leakage, and not feeling the urge to urinate despite the fullness of the bladder. The frequency of urinary incontinence increases with advancing age, and more than 40 percent of women over the age of 70 are affected by this condition.

Who Is at Risk for Urinary Incontinence?

Women are more likely to have 'stress incontinence' due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and normal female anatomy. Being overweight puts pressure on your bladder and surrounding muscles, making them weak. This causes urine to leak out when you cough or sneeze. Smoking, genetic predisposition, especially Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neurologic diseases such as stroke, brain tumor, spinal cord injury, or diabetes can increase your risk of urinary incontinence. A tumor that develops anywhere in your urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine, leading to overflow incontinence. Stones formed in the urinary tract sometimes led to urine leakage. Stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder can also occur in the 20s. Urinary incontinence can be triggered by health problems such as drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, urinary tract infections, hormonal changes, or having to take certain medications. Chronic cough and chronic constipation that start at a young age and are not treated can lead to urinary incontinence in the following years. Heavy lifting or certain types of exercise that put a strain on the pelvic floor can also increase the likelihood of incontinence.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Urinary Incontinence?

For many people with this problem, it is possible to relieve symptoms with lifestyle changes and some suggestions. Here is what you need to do:

Do exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles regularly.

A specialist physician and physiotherapist must evaluate whether you can use your pelvic floor muscles correctly and how much you can contract. Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be given an exercise program. Do not forget that you will see the effect of these exercises after at least 3 months and continue.

Quit smoking.

Do not lift heavy as it can strain your pelvic floor muscles.

Get rid of your excess weight.

Being overweight can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and cause incontinence due to the pressure of fatty tissue on your bladder.

If you have a constipation problem, receive treatment.

Straining weakens your pelvic floor muscles and makes urinary incontinence worse.

Many people avoid drinking liquids because they think it is causing more problems.

This both damages the kidneys and makes urinary incontinence worse. Because it reduces the capacity of the bladder. So, limit fluid intake only 2 to 3 hours before sleep.

Some drinks, foods, and medications can act as a diuretic, stimulating your bladder and increasing your urine volume.

Therefore, avoid alcohol, caffeine-containing tea and coffee, carbonated drinks, mineral water, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, spices, foods high in sugar or acid (especially citrus fruits), and high doses of vitamin C.

What Can Incontinence Cause If Left Untreated?

Many women hesitate to talk about urinary incontinence and do not seek medical advice for management and treatment of urinary incontinence. However, this problem negatively affects the quality of life and if it is common, medical help should be sought. If incontinence is not treated, skin rashes, infections, and sores may develop. Overflow urinary incontinence can lead to urinary tract infection if left untreated. This disorder, which causes you to feel "wet", "dirty" or "smelly", can cause mental problems that can lead to depression over time. It is also a fact that, especially in older adults, the risk of falling is increased when running to the toilet when the urge to urinate is felt.

Can Urinary Incontinence Be Treated with Medication?

Some types of urinary incontinence can be treated with medications or hormones. Especially in urgent urinary incontinence, the treatment option is medication treatment, and medications are used to reduce overactive muscle activity. However, there is no response to medication treatment in patients with stress urinary incontinence. In some cases, although rare, local estrogen creams, tapes, or tablets containing estrogen can be used. Botox injections into the bladder muscle may benefit those with an overactive bladder, but this treatment option should be tried last.

When is Surgery Necessary for Urinary Incontinence?

If other treatment approaches fail, surgery may be required to address the underlying cause of urinary incontinence. There are many surgical intervention options, each of which is selected and applied specifically to the type or cause of urinary incontinence. Today, there are new methods that are very simple and very effective, and can be applied even under local anesthesia with fewer incisions, shorter hospital stays, and recovery periods.

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