Incontinence is Not a Normal Part of Aging
Whether it’s urinary incontinence or vaginal bulge, pelvic floor issues often arise for younger women, especially those who have given birth vaginally. But these issues are not uncommon for women who have delivered via Cesarean section as well as women who haven’t been pregnant. Incontinence, which simply means leaking urine or loss of bladder control, is the most common pelvic floor problem in women, often appearing in their 30s and 40s. However, it is NOT a normal part of aging. You do not have to live with incontinence.
First off, it helps to understand the three common types of incontinence:
1) Stress incontinence: If you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, exercise or do anything that squeezes the belly, you’re in this camp. This is most common in women who have given vaginal birth.
2) Urge incontinence: A sudden and definite urge to pee is a sign of urge incontinence. Some women can’t even make it to the bathroom in time. If you have these sudden urges, but no leakage, then you may have an overactive bladder, which can also be treated.
3) Mixed incontinence: If you have symptoms of both of the above, then that is simply called mixed incontinence.
What can you do to reduce leaking?
• Decrease the amount of liquid you drink, especially close to bedtime.
• Cut back on alcohol, caffeine, spicy and acidic foods, which may irritate the bladder.
• Try to maintain a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking, if applicable.
• Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible if you have diabetes.
• Don’t take water pills unless you will be near a bathroom in the near future.
• Focus on retraining your bladder, which simply means going to the bathroom at scheduled times (for instance, every hour you are awake, whether you need to go at the time or not). Over time, you might be able to retrain your bladder to go three or four hours between bathroom visits.
• Incorporate pelvic muscles exercises, known as Kegels, which strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. Ask your doctor or nurse how to do these correctly.
• Talk to your doctor, who can examine your urine to rule out infection and do a pelvic exam to assess bladder support. Sometimes a test known as “Urodynamics” can be used to get detailed information on the bladder’s functioning. This short, minimally invasive test typically yields very useful information and is now available at Clinic Sofia in Maple Grove. Please give us a call at 952.922.7600 for more information.
