What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the inability of the bladder to hold the urine, resulting in the accidental loss of urine. It mostly occurs in women over 50 years of age or in pregnant women. It affects physical health and has an impact on the emotional and psychological health of the affected individual. In most cases it is not a lifelong problem but is manageable and treatable.

What causes urinary incontinence?

There are various causes of urine incontinence in women. It is not just an age-related issue but can occur in women of any age group.

Some causes of urine incontinence are as follows-

• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, every woman experiences urine incontinence. It occurs due to the pressure on the pelvic walls, urinary bladder, and the urethra from the fetus' growth that eventually causes the muscles to become weak and lead to leakage of urine.
• Childbirth: Childbirth from vaginal delivery can also cause urinary incontinence, but it goes away after a few weeks of delivery. It occurs because of the pressure exerted on the pelvic muscles.
• Menopause: After menopause, several hormonal changes occur in the female body. These hormonal changes, such as a decrease in the level of estrogen, weaken the urethra. The urethra reserves the urine in the bladder until you want to urinate.
• Aging: It is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in men and women. With aging, the muscles of the urethra lose their strength and become weak. It leads to difficulty in urinary control.

Certain diseases, use of medications can also cause urinary incontinence.

What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?

Symptoms of urinary incontinence:

• Involuntary loss of urine
• Need to urinate frequently
• Leakage of urine during exercise
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Urine leakage with coughing, sneezing, or laughing
• Feeling of wetness without the sensation of urine leakage

One must immediately consult with a doctor if one may suffer from the mentioned symptoms as it can also be a sign of another disease. Always consult with an expert for diagnosis.

How is urinary incontinence treated?

For treatment of urinary incontinence, it is necessary to determine its cause and symptoms. Based on the patient's age and symptoms, the treatment plan is created. Some common treatment plans for urinary incontinence are:

• Behavioral Therapies: This includes toileting assistance and bladder training.
• Diet Modifications: Eliminate the consumption of bladder irritants like caffeine, alcohol, and citrus fruits.
• Pelvic floor electrical stimulation that helps in muscle contraction.
• Kegel Exercise: The exercise targets pelvic muscle strength and helps prevent urinary incontinence.
• Neuromodulation and Biofeedback
• Medicines: After menopause, certain vaginal creams, patches, and estrogen are provided to strengthen the muscle of the urethra and vaginal area. A stronger urethra helps in bladder control.
• Vaginal Pessary: It is a small silicone or plastic device in the shape of a small donut that is put into the vagina. The device pushes against the urethra and vagina wall and supports the pelvic floor muscles, and helps reduce stress incontinence.
• Bulking Agents: Collagen is injected into the tissue around the bladder and urethra that causes them to thicken and keep the bladder opening closed and reduce the amount of urine leak out.
• Surgery: The procedure is not recommended if one plans to get pregnant in the future. Future pregnancy and childbirth can cause urinary leakage again.
• Retropubic Suspension: The procedure uses sutures to support the bladder neck. The most common procedure is the Burch procedure. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen below the navel and then sutures the thread to make the ligaments strong within the pelvis, supporting the urethral sphincter. Sometimes the sling procedures are also performed by vaginal incision.

If you are suffering from female urinary incontinence, then Neelkanth Hospital in Gurgaon is the best option for you. Consult with an expert gynecologist and urologist in Gurgaon for the management and treatment of urinary incontinence and other pelvic conditions in women.

Why choose Neelkanth Hospitals Private Limited for Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Gurgaon?

Neelkanth Hospital has a dedicated team of gynecologists and urologists who are experts at treating urinary incontinence. Patients can receive expert advice for all kinds of urinary incontinence at Neelkanth Hospital, Gurgaon.