Female Urinary Incontinence – Part I

Urinary Incontinence or losing control over bladder functioning is an exasperating problem noted to affect more than thirteen million U.S. citizens. Not being able to comprehend when or where one might experience an accidental disaster could have a major blow on all aspects of one’s life.

Known to affect both sexes, it is cited to be twice as prevalent amongst women. A research has shown that half of the populace of elderly women might be having some kind of incontinence.

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Signs of Stress Incontinence

The key sign of incontinence is the unintentional seepage of urine – on what occasion and how is dependent on the form of incontinence. If one is leaking slightly during laughing, coughing, sneezing, jogging or lifting some form of heavy items, then one might be having stress incontinence. This the most commonly occurring bladder control issue among the younger age bracket women.

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Reasons behind Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is the outcome of flaccidity of the muscles and tissues that aid in supporting the bladder. Due to heightened pressure against the bladder and the sphincter not being able to remain shut, seepage occurs. Pressure occurring from motions during cough, laughter could be enough to cause the urine leakage. There are many reasons behind the muscles slackening like increase in weight, a sports-associated injury or more than one pregnancy and normal delivery.

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Signs of Urge Incontinence

If one is constantly hassled with the fraught necessity of urinating, but fail to timely reach the loo, then it could indicate urge incontinence. The abrupt urge could be offset by the sounds of flowing water, when one sips a beverage or due to no particular reason at all. One might leak large quantities of urine in this form of incontinence, finding oneself perpetually rushing to the bathroom despite the bladder being almost empty.

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Reasons behind Urge Incontinence

The hasty, irresistible urge to urinate is deemed to be due to spasms emanating from the bladder muscles due to damage caused to either the muscle or the nerve. In certain situations, the damage is related to a kind of grave ailment like stroke, bladder irritation due to infection or inflammation.

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Hyperactive Bladder

An overactive or hyperactive bladder is one more term for urge incontinence with analogous sense of increasingly repetitive urination. Though not all with an overactive bladder have incontinence; several women can manage to hold back their urge till they reach the loo. Instead of the problem of urine seepage, the chief hassle for such patients is the perpetual stoppage of their chores in order to make a trip to the toilet. Few individuals experience signs solely during the day while some have increased intensity only during the night time.

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Medicines that exacerbate Incontinence

In women, particular medicines for lowering blood pressure have a tendency to lax the bladder muscles and are major contributors of stress incontinence. Certain antidepressant medicines are known to allay symptoms while others could deteriorate the situation. Diuretics (water pills) produce more urination that could exaggerate any form of incontinence.

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Emotional Bearing of Incontinence

Though not of any perilous consequence, incontinence could have a major bearing on one’s emotional self. Studies have revealed that women having incontinence exhibit depleted levels of self-worth, lowered libido and increased depressive tendencies in comparison to women having no bladder issues. Apprehensions regarding any possibility of accidents could lead to social seclusion, though it does not have to turn out in this manner. Incontinence can be adeptly treated or even undone.

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Diagnosis of Incontinence

The preliminary diagnostic step would be to determine the particular form of incontinence. The doctor would delve into the medical past and possibly request for a urine sample for checking for the presence of any UTI or urinary tract infection.

The doctor might ask one to stand and do some coughing as a means of detecting stress incontinence. One might be requested to maintain a regular comprehensive dairy for noting down the quantity of fluid intake, the frequency of urination and how much one urinates.

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Testing Procedures for Incontinence

An array of testing procedures helps in accurate detection of the causes leading to incontinence. An Ultrasound imaging could reveal the variation of position of the bladder and urethra at the time of urinating, coughing or other forms of activities.

A pad test helps detect the extent of urine leaking during the day. The bladder stress test aids in checking for stress incontinence. Cystometry is used for measurement of the bladder pressure and is beneficial in detecting urge incontinence. An MRI scan could reveal problems that might be missed out in other forms of imaging.

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Management of Milder forms of Incontinence

Those with mild version of incontinence can curb leakage by consuming lesser drinks, for instance reducing the cups from full to half, avoiding diuretic natured intake like coffee, tea and caffeine contained sodas. Another approach is regular emptying of the bladder in an interval of 2-4 hours, irrespective of the need.

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