Urinary Incontinence Causes Depression in Women

Involuntary urinary incontinence negatively affects women in many ways, from social life to sexual life. Stressing that this problem, which is defined as "Urinary Incontinence", may arise due to many reasons, Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Prof. Dr. Orhan Ünal pointed out that the feeling of discomfort caused by the constant concern of wetness, irritation, and smell in the person may also lead to depression.

Unintentional urinary incontinence in women can usually occur during physical exertion that causes stress (stress incontinence) such as coughing, sneezing, and sudden urinary incontinence. Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics, Gynecological Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Orhan Ünal stated that risk factors such as age, number of births, difficult birth, obesity, smoking, chronic cough, constipation, bladder prolapse, previous pelvic surgery or injury, urinary tract infections, and menopause play an important role in the development of this problem.

There Are Different Underlying Factors

Stating that they first determined whether the incontinence developed due to infection by looking at urinalysis and culture for female patients who applied to them with the complaint of urinary incontinence, Prof. Dr. Orhan Ünal explained the following: "If the underlying cause is not an infection, an examination is made to determine whether there is a uterine prolapse in the genital tract. At the same time, it is investigated whether there is a problem in the contraction of the bladder muscle. To understand this, we use various tests called urodynamics. Urine that escapes with a cough or sneeze is called "stress incontinence". The solution to this is surgery. Drug therapy is used for disorders caused by the bladder wall. Apart from this, complaints such as coughing, not being able to reach the toilet during laughter, and urinary incontinence may also be treated medically, that is, with medication. Surgical methods are not effective in these abductions. Surgical methods are also applied in urinary incontinence problems due to sagging of the uterus or sagging of the vaginal wall."

Surgical Methods Can Give Face-Pleasing Results

Stating that sling operations are among the most frequently used surgical procedures for urinary incontinence in women and are based on the principle of supporting the bladder neck and urethra, Prof. Dr. Orhan Ünal informed that TVT, TOT, and mini sling techniques are other methods applied. Reminding that women can return to their daily lives in a very short time with these procedures, Yeditepe University Hospitals Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Prof. Dr. Orhan Ünal "Urinary incontinence operations that can be performed under general or spinal anesthesia are performed in a very short time. The patient is discharged the next day after the operation and can return to their daily lives quickly. The success rates are quite high and good results are obtained in the long term. The quality of life of the patient increases and self-confidence is restored thanks to these types of surgical applications, which have a very low complication rate."