Causes of urinary incontinence in women. Urinary incontinence in women: causes and treatment. Other types of incontinence
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Nothing can ruin a woman's life more than the realization of her inferiority. This is the feeling that urinary incontinence in women leads to. Concerns about smell, discomfort in the intimate area, and difficulties in the sexual sphere unsettle them, sometimes leading them to depression. Not everyone goes to the doctor for this. And in vain. Worldwide, more than 80% of women have similar problems. They can and should be corrected, independently or with the help of medicine. Treatment often has a positive effect by eliminating the causes of the disease.
Types and causes of incontinence
Physiologically, incontinence is caused by weakening of the sphincters of the bladder - the muscles that “lock” it. Their weakening may be due to general laxity of the pelvic muscles, illness, infection, decreased estrogen, repeated childbirth, prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall, or injury and surgery.
There are a number of serious diseases that lead to incontinence. Therefore, its treatment should be part of complex therapy or through surgery.
There are several types of urinary incontinence:
- stressful;
- urgent;
- night.
Stress incontinence can occur during exertion - lifting heavy objects, coughing and sneezing, laughing.
Urge urinary incontinence is caused by an overactive bladder when a woman simply does not have time to get to the toilet. The signal to the brain arrives later than the sphincter relaxes. The urge to urinate appears uncontrollably, even with an incomplete bladder.
Bedwetting in women occurs as a result of injuries, gynecological operations and difficult childbirth.
At-risk groups
Women at greatest risk for this problem are:
- over 60 years old;
- during menopause;
- having excess weight;
- smokers with chronic cough;
- with chronic disease of the bronchi and lungs with a constant strong cough;
- with chronic diseases of the genitourinary system;
- diabetics;
- suffering from constipation;
- often giving birth.
Should I see a doctor or not?
Definitely yes, treatment is necessary. You need to forget about your shyness and be sure to consult a doctor. Incontinence can be caused by a serious medical condition that is easy to miss.
Many women consider the problem to be age-related and try to cope with it on their own or simply adapt to the inconvenience, thereby reducing the quality of life.
Often, it is enough to undergo drug treatment to get rid of the problem.
In addition, urinary incontinence usually leads to consequences in the form of local irritation of the skin of the mucous membranes of the intimate area, the appearance of ulcers and cracks in this area, and inflammation of the urinary tract, which may also require treatment.
If incontinence is not caused by other diseases, your doctor will give recommendations for its treatment. This may include:
- gymnastics;
- drug treatment (hormonal therapy) and use of a pessary;
- diet;
- medications that soothe the bladder (antispasmodics);
- surgical intervention.
Auxiliary products and medications
A special device - a pessary - is used when incontinence occurs due to prolapse of the vaginal wall and prolapse of the uterus. Usually the pessary comes in the shape of a ring (reminiscent of a uterine pessary). It maintains the pelvic organs at the proper level, which practically solves the problem of their pressure on the bladder. The pessary does not have to be installed by a doctor. He can simply teach the woman how to use the device correctly.
If uterine prolapse and vaginal wall prolapse progress, pelvic muscle reconstruction surgery may be required. In this case, the cause of urinary incontinence will be eliminated.
If incontinence occurs as a result of a decrease in the level of the female sex hormone estrogen in the body, vaginal suppositories containing it will help the woman. It is minor and will not cause side effects. The hormone will strengthen the sphincter. However, after treatment is completed, the problem may return.
A number of medications can help relieve bladder muscle tension associated with urge incontinence. These are antispasmodics and antidepressants, the use of which without consulting a doctor is undesirable.
Infections of the urethra and bladder that cause incontinence are treated with antibiotics.
It is possible to use physical therapy (electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles) and an alternative method of treating urinary incontinence in women. This method is practiced in Russia only in private clinics and gives a positive effect in more than 85% of cases. The method is based on creating biological feedback, when the brain “learns” to timely recognize the signals sent to it by the bladder.
Treatment with traditional methods
- give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
- do special gymnastics;
- reduce weight;
- follow a diet;
- use herbal preparations;
- Avoid sweets, coffee and citrus fruits;
- Normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract to get rid of constipation.
Smoking causes coughing, and coffee and alcohol overly irritate the bladder. It is better to consult a doctor about your diet in order to kill two birds with one stone - get rid of urinary incontinence and constipation. Excluded from the diet:
- sweets and citrus fruits;
- chocolate;
- dairy products;
- spices with flavor enhancers;
- drinks with sweetener;
- any pickled preparations, as well as dishes with vinegar;
- products with a diuretic effect;
- tomatoes.
Herbal remedies will also help relieve irritable bladder syndrome. It is best to use urological and anti-inflammatory herbs. Infusions of sage, dill seeds, St. John's wort, lingonberry (leaf and berry), bird cherry bark collected during its flowering, and corn silk will be good. They must be prepared according to the instructions on the package.
Separately, it is worth mentioning gymnastics. This is a set of exercises that helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. With its help you can get rid of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. It should be performed regularly, with a transition from simple to complex - gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises and increasing the approaches. If all the rules are followed, a positive result is observed in 70% of cases by the end of the second week.
Gymnastics and urination regime
A set of exercises that helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles is Kegel exercises. With its help you can get rid of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. It should be performed regularly, with a transition from simple to complex - gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises and increasing the approaches. If all the rules are followed, a positive result is observed in 70% of cases by the end of the second week. There are exercises that can be done constantly throughout the day, without others noticing.
With urge incontinence, bladder “training” gives good results. Disorderly urination is brought under control. Some women begin to keep a diary in which they note the time they drink fluids and the time when the bladder gives a signal. In this case, a certain mode of urination during the day and control of urges is established. The period of urge control gradually increases and the number of urinations per day is brought back to normal.
For bedwetting, the position will ease the condition when the legs are slightly elevated.
How to ensure the best possible comfort for yourself
Even all treatment methods taken together may not completely eliminate urinary incontinence. There are means that will help make living with such an illness more or less comfortable.
What a woman fears most is the smell. Using pads that absorb moisture and odor is not always effective. What can be done to make the smell of urine less pronounced?
- Do not limit fluid intake, as many women do, to reduce urine production. The less liquid, the more concentrated the urine and the stronger its smell. On the contrary, you need to drink more water, the urine will smell less.
- Change pads after each leak, treat the skin with wet wipes for the intimate area, and if possible, take a shower.
- Vitamin C and cranberry juice improve the smell of urine, but they are not for everyone. If you have diabetes, they cannot be used.
- Use Nullo food additives, which eliminate the unpleasant odor of all human waste, including urine.
- When rinsing your underwear after washing, add vinegar, it will eliminate all odors.
- Use special urological pads, they are always available in pharmacies, you just need to ask.
We must remember that every problem has a solution. Urinary incontinence is a very unpleasant disease, but it is treatable. First of all, you need to take care of yourself, throwing away all fears, embarrassment and complexes.
Urinary incontinence is a pathological condition in which involuntary loss of urine occurs. This problem is especially relevant among women. It significantly worsens the patient’s quality of life, causing a feeling of shame and discomfort. In addition, women often do not dare to seek qualified help, being embarrassed by incontinence or thinking that everything will go away on its own, which only worsens their condition. By the way, this problem is an accompanying phenomenon in some pathological processes.
Previously, this disease was considered a companion of older people, however, now its “rejuvenation” is being noted - many women, after 30 years, or even earlier, first encountered urinary incontinence. So why does urinary incontinence occur in women?
Types of urinary incontinence in women
One of the common types of pathology is stress urinary incontinence in women, which occurs during physical stress. Due to the tension of the abdominal muscles, pressure increases in the intra-abdominal area, which in turn puts pressure on the bladder, and then a small portion of urine is released. The weak sphincter, the urinary organ, which relaxes and opens when urinating, is to blame for everything. The rest of the time it is in a compressed state. With sphincter dysfunction, control of urine output does not occur, and incontinence occurs.
Urgent urinary incontinence in women is the involuntary loss of urine with such an unbearable and sudden urge to urinate that the patient cannot restrain it. Such “accidents” are provoked by external factors - the sound of a stream of water, coughing, drinking alcoholic beverages, when switching from heat to cold.
But most often there is a mixed type of urinary incontinence.
Causes of urinary incontinence in women
Stress urinary incontinence in pregnant women occurs due to muscle strain in the pelvis or during difficult childbirth with a rupture of the perineum due to the large weight of the baby. At the same time, the risk of developing pathology increases in patients who have given birth to a second and third child.
Urinary incontinence in young women can also occur as a result of surgical intervention on the pelvic organs - during abortion, removal of tumors of the uterus and the uterus itself, its appendages. In addition, this problem is caused by strenuous sports, excessive physical activity, obesity, injuries in the urogenital organs or spinal cord, due to which the brain does not receive signals about the fullness of the bladder.
An example is urinary incontinence in an elderly woman, which is primarily associated with the changes that occur in her body. Menopause occurs, during which the level of estrogen hormones decreases, which, in turn, affects the mucous membrane of the external genitalia. The amount of vitamin C also decreases, which deteriorates the strength of the tissues and the elasticity of the walls of the bladder. Age-related urinary incontinence in women is also associated with diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, and diabetes.
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Quite often, women experience urinary incontinence at night, or enuresis. Moreover, women over 45 years of age are most susceptible to bedwetting due to loss of elasticity of the bladder walls and decreased sphincter tone.
A woman should definitely consult a doctor to solve her health problem. Medicinal, physiotherapeutic and surgical treatment of urinary incontinence is provided.
Prevention of urinary incontinence in women consists of following hygiene standards, proper nutrition, water regime, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and limiting coffee. It is especially useful to be active and perform exercises that help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic organs (“Birch”, “Bicycle”, “Scissors”).
In medicine, this disease has a scientific name - incontinence. It can occur in both men and women. This phenomenon occurs due to dysfunction of the genitourinary system, which as a result can be a source of severe emotional discomfort, disruption of the usual lifestyle, difficulties in professional activity, and disharmony in personal relationships. As part of the article, we will try to consider in detail urinary incontinence in women: types, causes, how and how to treat urinary incontinence and other important issues.
Common types
Urinary incontinence in women is a permanent or temporary loss of urinary control that occurs due to various problems associated with dysfunction of the genitourinary system. The volume of fluid lost in this case varies: it can be just a few drops or frequent and abundant leakage throughout the day.
As a rule, doctors distinguish the following main types of urinary incontinence:
- Imperative. With this type, cases of urinary incontinence in women occur due to dysfunction of certain parts of the nervous system. In addition, one of the factors causing this type of urinary incontinence in women is disorders associated with the innervation of the bladder itself. Urgent urinary incontinence is characteristic of an overactive bladder.
– Stress urinary incontinence. It can manifest itself due to surges in intra-abdominal pressure that occur during intense physical exertion, lifting heavy weights, during harsh laughter, or during a severe coughing attack. This type of urinary incontinence is more often diagnosed in women than in men. This type of disease is typical for women during menopause. In this case, stress incontinence occurs due to a large accumulation of collagen, which stimulates weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and leads to prolapse of the pelvic organs. As experts note, stress urinary incontinence occurs at least once in a lifetime, on average, in 30-45% of women.
– Mixed type. This is a symbiosis of the first type and stress urinary incontinence. Mostly, such situations arise in women immediately after childbirth. In this case, the most common causes of urinary incontinence include injuries and various damage to the pelvic muscles, including the tissues of the pelvic organs. With this type, uncontrollable leakage of urine appears during various stresses on the body and an acute urge to urinate, which is almost impossible to control and stop.
– Enuresis is the involuntary loss of urine, which can occur at any time. For bedwetting, the term “nocturnal enuresis” is used. Moreover, all cases of enuresis are associated with an overactive bladder, causing uncontrolled urination.
– Constant urinary incontinence. It occurs against the background of pathologies of the urethra, with an abnormal structure of the ureter, as well as with sphincter dysfunction.
– Other types of uncontrolled urination, including incontinence during sexual intercourse.
The most common cases in medical practice are stress urinary incontinence, as well as urgency, in which it is almost impossible for a woman to stop the irresistible and sudden urge to urinate. In particular, this pathology affects women who have rapid or, conversely, protracted labor, as a result of which the woman in labor suffered various ruptures, birth injuries and other injuries that caused weakening of the pelvic day muscles, as well as disruption of the functioning of the urethral sphincter.
Symptoms and main signs of urinary incontinence in women
Symptoms of urinary incontinence may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the health status of each woman and the type of disease. The main symptoms are similar and boil down to the fact that this disease may be accompanied by some pain and severe psychological and physical discomfort. Urine that gets on the mucous membrane of the vagina and the surface of the external genitalia over time becomes the cause of itching and irritation, which in the future can lead to the formation of infectious diseases and inflammatory processes. In addition, incontinence is considered a progressive disease that can greatly impair the quality of life and create an imbalance in the usual way of life. The feminine is constant stress and fear, a source of irritation and a depressed emotional state.
Frequent urination and urinary incontinence in women becomes the reason that a woman is forced to limit visits to public places and personal contacts, which leads to almost complete attachment to home. Many representatives of the fairer sex give up sexual life over time due to the fear of uncontrollable urination during sexual intercourse, which also greatly affects their health. Urinary incontinence has a particularly strong impact on women over 30 years of age, who at this age are in the active phase of life and such serious restrictions have a destructive effect on their health and lifestyle.
The first signs of urinary incontinence in women are an uncontrollable and sudden urge to go to the toilet, small or heavy leaks, and a constant feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied. In some cases, patients complain of sensations in the vagina of the presence of a foreign body. Also, with urinary incontinence, symptoms manifest themselves in the leakage of urine with strong laughter, coughing, sneezing.
The main causes of the disease
What is the cause of urinary incontinence in women? A number of factors and conditions can provoke weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and dysfunction of the urethral sphincter. In most cases this is:
Obesity and gross overweight
Pregnancy and childbirth
Old age
Urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, chronic bladder diseases, including cancer
Chronic cough
In some cases, diabetes mellitus
Stroke, sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other mental disorders accompanied by loss of urinary control
Anomalies and pathologies in the structure of the genitourinary system
What to do about urinary incontinence in women? The answer to such a question can be unambiguous - it is necessary to urgently contact a medical specialist who will correctly diagnose the disease, identify what may be causing urinary incontinence in women, develop a treatment regimen and eliminate not only the disease, but the causes of the disease.
Who treats urinary incontinence in women and methods for diagnosing urinary incontinence in women
Which doctor treats urinary incontinence in women? First of all, you need to contact a general practitioner, who will prescribe initial tests and issue a referral to a highly specialized medical specialist. In clinics and medical centers, treatment of urinary incontinence in women is carried out by a urologist whose competence is this disease. In some cases, a gynecologist is involved in the treatment process (if the disease is related to the gynecological field of medicine).
How to treat urinary incontinence in women?
The basis of any therapy is a correctly performed diagnosis, which will determine not only the symptoms and nature of the disease, but also the causes of its occurrence, the factors why urinary incontinence occurs in women. Diagnostics will help to correctly develop the correct treatment strategy and avoid mistakes that can cause relapse of the disease or complications. In the case of urinary incontinence in women, there are no exceptions in this regard.
Before deciding what to do about urinary incontinence in women and how to treat it, an initial examination of the patient and a conversation are carried out, during which it is desirable that the woman be as frank as possible, not shy and tell in as much detail as possible why she has urinary incontinence. . During the initial examination, a specialist can find out what causes urinary incontinence in a particular woman, how it manifests itself and what is associated with urinary incontinence, what and how many births there were, and how they proceeded. Questions may be asked: whether or not there have been pelvic surgeries, whether there were previous diseases of the bladder, the presence of chronic diseases will be clarified, and a number of other important questions for the doctor that will help him determine how to treat urinary incontinence.
The specialist may suggest that the patient begin to keep daily records, which will indicate the frequency of urination, its nature, and the approximate volume of urine released. Also, such a diary must indicate episodes of urinary incontinence and what causes urinary incontinence in this woman, physical and sexual activity, and a number of other key points.
In addition, an examination will be carried out on a gynecological chair, during which it will be determined whether or not there is weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, the presence of pain in the patient, the condition of the bladder neck, cough tests will be carried out, and the general condition of the skin and tissues will be assessed. genitals.
Next, the doctor will issue a referral for tests. In order to determine a treatment regimen for female urinary incontinence, the patient will need to undergo a general urine and blood test, which will determine the presence or absence of inflammatory processes and infectious diseases in the genitourinary system, in particular in the urethra and urinary tract, as well as gynecological diseases . A urine culture will also be performed to determine the body's sensitivity to the effects of antibiotics and urine culture for flora.
An ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys may be prescribed, which will help identify possible pathologies of these internal organs and the condition of the bladder neck. In some cases, the doctor performs a transvaginal ultrasound examination, X-ray examinations, and cystoscopy, which determines the general condition and functionality of the bladder sphincter.
In order to establish the causes of urinary incontinence in women and determine treatment, it is possible to conduct urodynamic studies and uroflowmetry, during which an opinion will also be given on the functionality of the bladder and urinary tract.
And only after a full range of diagnostic measures has been carried out, the doctor will be able to determine with utmost precision how and with what to cure urinary incontinence, what effective methods and medications to use, and how to prevent relapse of the disease.
Treatment for urinary incontinence in women: basic methods
The effectiveness of therapy primarily depends on the causes and nature of the disease, as well as on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Each specific therapy is determined depending on the type of disease, how the urinary incontinence developed and how much it affected the woman's daily life.
Is there a cure for urinary incontinence in women? Of course, it can be treated, and there are two main methods: surgery and therapeutic treatment.
Therapeutic treatment of urinary incontinence consists of taking medications prescribed by a doctor, doing specially designed gymnastics, physiotherapy, and teaching a woman to control her bladder activity. In this case, therapeutic methods are usually combined, which makes it possible to treat urinary incontinence more effectively. Suitable for treating urinary leakage and incontinence at home, but requires professional supervision by a healthcare professional.
If the chosen therapy does not help or the disease is in a very advanced stage, conservative methods, including surgical intervention, can be used.
Treatment of urinary incontinence: surgical methods
As a rule, surgical treatment is prescribed for urinary incontinence in those women who have severe signs of urinary incontinence, as well as in patients with an abnormal structure of the bladder and pathologies of the urinary tract. For this type of treatment, the doctor can choose from nearly 200 procedures designed to restore the proper anatomy of the bladder and urethra. Most often, this technique is used for stress urinary incontinence. It should be separately noted that injections are also part of surgical treatment for urinary incontinence and pathologies of the genitourinary system in women.
The choice of a specific type of surgical procedure from the two hundred available today will depend on the general condition of the bladder, the severity of the urine, the stage and nature of the disease and, most importantly, on the experience of the doctor who will perform the procedure. Therefore, patients choosing what to do for urinary incontinence should consult with their doctor and clarify with him all the consequences and risks of surgical intervention, as well as the qualifications and experience of the surgeon.
You need to know that surgical methods are contraindicated for patients with cancer, acute inflammatory processes, and diabetes mellitus.
How is urinary incontinence treated in women with drug therapy?
Medicines prescribed for the medical treatment of urinary incontinence in women are used in cases where there are no anomalies or pathologies in the genitourinary system. The action of such drugs is aimed at strengthening the pelvic muscles, normalizing the functioning of the urethral sphincter, improving the ability of the bladder to retain sufficiently large volumes of urine or to relax the bladder. Often this technique is used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, as well as as a treatment for urinary incontinence in women after 40 years of age. In addition, drug therapy is quite effective for urine leakage in older women.
What to take for urinary incontinence in women?
Depending on the results of diagnostic tests, various drugs may be prescribed. These may be anticholinergics, adrenergic agonists and/or duloxetine, whose action is aimed at increasing the tone of the urethral sphincter. If the disease is of the imperative type, then it is possible to take antibiotics, hormonal medications, Vesicare, Driptan, Detrisitol and other medications from this group of drugs. If there is mild urinary incontinence in women, Desmopressin may be prescribed.
In addition, anticholinergics help control the urge to urinate and help relax the bladder, reducing intra-abdominal pressure. If the disease is caused by disorders of the nervous system, then antidepressants may be included in the therapy. In any case, when prescribing drug treatment and when choosing drugs, it is necessary to study the side effects and identify the body’s reaction to the action of specific active substances included in the drugs.
Kegel exercises
An effective technique based on a set of exercises necessary to train the muscles of the pelvic apparatus and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Suitable for treating any type of urinary incontinence in women, regardless of cause and symptoms. Combining Kegel exercises with drug therapy will help improve positive dynamics.
When performing Kegel exercises, it is necessary to slowly or quickly squeeze the muscles involved in urination, make push-ups that simulate attempts during childbirth, and hold the stream during real urination. It is necessary to perform a set of exercises at least three times a day, preferably 4-5 times daily. The number of repetitions of each exercise should be 7-10 with constant increase. The duration of compression-relaxation should gradually increase; at the beginning of the lesson, you can train the muscles by relaxing or activating them for 3 seconds, then increase this time to 20 seconds.
The convenience of such gymnastics is that you can perform the necessary exercises almost unnoticeably, while driving in a car, while walking, at work or under other conditions. In order to better understand and study the technique, you can watch a video that explains in detail the essence of such gymnastics and demonstrates the correct execution of a set of exercises.
Over time, such training of the perivaginal and periurethral muscles will help to fully restore control over the bladder and the urination process. Effective for the treatment of urinary incontinence in women during running, walking, and stress disorders.
Treatment with folk remedies
Opponents of drug treatment often try to resort to treatment with folk remedies and alternative medicine methods. Is it possible to cure urinary incontinence in women in this way? It should be said that a positive effect from such practice is possible, but for the highest positive result it is still worth combining traditional medicine methods with traditional therapeutic techniques and gymnastics. And again, no uncontrolled self-medication is allowed due to the fact that many of the drugs used for alternative therapy are quite strong and may be unsafe for health.
There are several proven recipes that have practically shown positive dynamics for this disease. The most commonly used are decoctions of sage, dill seeds, infusions of yarrow, St. John's wort, and chicory root. Home treatment is quite simple and accessible to almost everyone, it takes a minimal amount of time and effort. The action of folk remedies is aimed at stabilizing the functioning of the bladder and eliminating inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system. Most often, women aged 40 years and older women resort to this method of treating urinary incontinence.
But, like any other problem, the treatment of incontinence must be approached comprehensively and, in addition to therapy, it is necessary to reconsider your lifestyle.
Adjusting your lifestyle
First of all, you should strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, which for women, and especially for urinary incontinence in young girls, regardless of the reason, is very important. The skin and tissues of the external genitalia must be kept perfectly clean; they must be washed several times a day, but avoid using very hot water. If the first signs of irritation appear, the areas where they have formed should not be rubbed vigorously to prevent infection and the development of infections.
If a woman's urinary incontinence is caused by bladder injuries, the injured areas should be cleaned and treated. After taking a bath or shower, as well as after any other contact with water, the surfaces of the external genitalia must be treated with protective creams that will repel water and protect the skin from exposure to urine. It is also recommended to use antifungal medications and products to eliminate yeast infections.
To reduce unpleasant odors and eliminate them completely over time, you can take deodorizing tablets and drink more water. To eliminate the effects of nocturnal enuresis, beds and mattresses can be treated with a solution of water to which vinegar has been added. This will help remove the smell of urine.
Further, with weight gain, a weakening of the pelvic muscles is observed. Therefore, if you are overweight and at risk of obesity, you need to urgently change your diet and make a choice in favor of healthy foods, which should be taken in moderation. Daily meals must be high in fiber, vegetables and fruits. This will help eliminate constipation, which can also often be the cause of urinary incontinence in girls and women. It is best to remove alcoholic beverages and coffee from frequent consumption, and you should also stop smoking.
What to do about urinary incontinence in women involved in sports?
Under no circumstances should you stop playing your favorite sports. There are a number of recommendations that will help solve the problem. It is necessary to limit fluid intake immediately before training, but you should make sure that the body is not dehydrated. Also, before playing sports, you need to go to the toilet several times, and best of all right before training. In addition, physically active and athletic women can use absorbent or protective pads during exercise. You can wear special underwear, which is produced for people suffering from uncontrollable urination. There are entire collections of such underwear and accessories.
What should a woman who has urinary incontinence do?
First of all, do not panic, do not drive yourself into complexes and do not close yourself off from the world around you. There are many ways and options for solving this problem; you just need to consult a doctor in time and choose the optimal method for yourself. Correctly conducted therapy will help you maintain your usual lifestyle and soon forget about your unpleasant illness.
And, of course, do not forget that Tatyana Kozhevnikova’s technique can work wonders even in the presence of such a problem as urinary incontinence.
More than half of women experience the problem of urinary incontinence at least once in their lives. Sometimes this problem develops in girls in the postpartum period, sometimes it is a reason for loss of calm in older people, and in some cases it is a heavy burden for a long time.
Fear due to lack of urinary control leads to the development of sexual and psychological disorders, can provoke depression or become an obstacle to career and personal growth. Incontinence (synonymous with urinary incontinence) always affects the standard of living (reduces it), so this condition requires special attention.
Today there is even a special International Organization for Urinary Continence, which conducts research in this area and develops new approaches and treatment methods. Urinary incontinence is any involuntary loss of urine. However, depending on the circumstances and time of day, there are several types of incontinence.
Types of urinary incontinence:
Iatrogenic incontinence (due to taking medications);
mixed;
urgent (imperative);
stressful;
other types (unconscious incontinence, bedwetting, continuous leakage).
The most typical and most common for women are: stress, imperative and mixed incontinence.
Stress urinary incontinence
This type of incontinence accounts for half of all cases of uncontrolled urination. The main reason for this condition is the improper functioning of the closing muscle - the sphincter of the urethra. The weakening of this muscle, together with a periodic increase in intra-abdominal pressure, can cause urine leakage or complete emptying of the bladder.
Symptoms of stress urinary incontinence:
absence of an irresistible urge to urinate;
leakage of urine in different volumes during sexual intercourse, coughing, laughing, physical activity, straining;
sometimes this condition is combined with fecal and gas incontinence.
Causes of stress urinary incontinence
There are quite a few such reasons. Here are the main ones:
Pregnancy.
Almost all women who are pregnant experience certain inconveniences associated with the leakage of small amounts of urine. Thus, expectant mothers have to plan their own walks based on the “map” of the location of the toilets. Moreover, in the first weeks of pregnancy and in the period before childbirth, this condition is more pronounced. This is due to changes in the body’s hormonal levels and compression of the pelvic organs by the uterus.
Childbirth.
Incontinence develops especially often after spontaneous childbirth in the presence of a large fetus with incisions in the perineum and other manipulations. As a result of such actions, the ligaments and muscles of the pelvic floor are damaged, intra-abdominal pressure begins to be distributed unevenly, and the sphincter stops working correctly. It is sloppy perineal incisions (episiotomies) and ruptures that cause fecal and gas incontinence to be added to urinary incontinence.
Surgical interventions on the pelvic organs.
Any operations that are associated with the uterus, rectum or bladder lead to the development of adhesions and a change in pressure in the pelvis. In addition, operations can be complicated by various fistulas between organs, which also provokes the development of urinary incontinence.
Age-related changes in the body.
With age, muscle tone and ligament elasticity decrease, which leads to sphincter dysfunction. After a woman enters menopause, the body begins to experience a lack of estrogen, which manifests itself in the form of urinary incontinence in elderly patients.
In addition to the main reasons listed above, there are also risk factors. They can act as a background for the development of urinary incontinence, but their presence does not guarantee the development of pathology.
Risk factors:
taking certain medications;
digestive disorders;
urinary tract infections;
neurological diseases (spinal injuries, parkinsonism, heart attack, stroke);
obesity (especially if it is combined with diabetes);
heredity (if close relatives had cases of urinary incontinence in childhood (enuresis), the risk of developing pathology is higher);
Caucasian race.
Stress urinary incontinence causes a lot of problems. Constant nervous tension, fear of losing urine in public, and refusal to play sports negatively affect health. Therefore, you should not keep silent about this topic and be embarrassed; you should seek advice from a specialist at the first sign.
Urgent incontinence
Normally, the urge to urinate occurs after a certain amount of urine accumulates in the bladder. Feeling such an urge, a woman is able to restrain herself until the nearest toilet. With increased bladder reactivity, even a small amount of urine can provoke a strong urge to urinate. If there is no toilet nearby, then there is a risk, and quite a high one, of leaking urine.
The cause of the development of this disease is considered to be a hyperreactive bladder. Due to the special mobility of the psyche and the speed of nerve impulses, the muscles of the bladder and sphincter react to the slightest irritation. Therefore, there is a high probability of losing urine, even if the amount of urine in the bladder is quite small, especially in the presence of an external stimulus (the sound of pouring urine, bright light).
The main symptoms of urge urinary incontinence in women:
uncontrollable urge to urinate;
the urge is always (or almost always) sudden;
frequent urge to urinate;
The occurrence of urges quite often occurs when exposed to external stimuli.
Risk factors for the development of urge incontinence are the same as for stress incontinence, since these types of pathology are often combined.
Differential diagnosis of urinary incontinence
Urge incontinence |
Stress incontinence |
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Frequent urination (more than 8-10 times a day) |
Often |
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Urinary incontinence during exercise |
Often |
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Cases of incontinence after an irresistible urge |
Often |
Almost never |
Increased symptoms after eating spicy foods or alcohol |
Often, in case of secondary inflammatory disease |
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Nocturnal urine output |
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Urinary incontinence during sexual intercourse |
Iatrogenic urinary incontinence
Some medications have urinary problems as side effects:
antidepressants and sedatives;
some drugs containing estrogen;
colchicine (treatment of gout);
all diuretics;
adrenomimetics (pseudoephedrine) can provoke urinary retention with subsequent incontinence; they are used to treat bronchial pathologies.
After completing the course of treatment with these drugs, the unpleasant symptom disappears on its own.
Other types of incontinence
Rarer causes of urinary incontinence are most often associated with the presence of organic pathology. This could be damage to the spinal cord or brain due to multiple sclerosis, strokes, injuries, or tumor processes.
Only a doctor can figure out the exact cause of this problem. Usually, if a woman has urinary incontinence, she consults a urologist or gynecologist. In recent years, a narrower specialty has emerged - urogynecology, which deals with the problems of the female genitourinary system.
Diagnosis of urinary incontinence
Detailed pathological history collection
The factors that provoke incontinence, the time of onset of symptoms, their severity, and additional complaints are important. In addition, you need to ask the woman’s female relatives about the presence of similar symptoms in order to exclude or identify a hereditary predisposition. It is imperative to note the presence of chronic nocturnal enuresis in childhood (if any).
You can also fill out a questionnaire designed for people with incontinence problems.
Urinary Incontinence Symptom Questionnaire ISQ ( Incontinence Symptom Questionnair ):
hypothermia;
psycho-emotional stress;
the sound or sight of running water;
change in body position: transition from a horizontal (sitting) position to a vertical one;
lifting weights;
exercise, sports, running.
How long have you been experiencing symptoms of incontinence?
Has the volume of urine lost changed since the onset of the disease?
How has the incidence of urinary incontinence changed since it first occurred?
Please indicate how often the following actions cause urinary incontinence (often, sometimes, never):
Do you have an irresistible urge to urinate?
How long are you able to hold urine after the urge occurs?
How often is urine lost?
When does incontinence most often occur?
Do you feel your underwear getting wet without first having the urge to urinate?
Do you wake up at night to urinate?
Please indicate the amount of urine you lose?
Keeping a urine diary
Detailed records of urination and incontinence will help the doctor accurately determine the diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
What type of liquid was taken (beer, juice, water, coffee), its quantity |
How many times did you urinate in one hour? |
What is the amount of urine in ml? (average, a lot, a little) |
Was there an irresistible urge to urinate? |
Was there an episode of involuntary urinary leakage? |
How much urine was passed during this episode in ml? (average, a lot, a little) |
What did you do during the episode of involuntary urination? |
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Morning running |
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...and so on for 24 hours.
PAD- test
Quite often, the concept of “little” or “many” varies quite a lot among different women, so it is difficult to assess the degree of pathology. In such cases, the PAD test or pad test comes to the rescue. This method is used to obtain objective information about the amount of urine lost by the patient.
For the study, the woman wears urological pads, having previously weighed them before and after use. The duration of this test can range from 20 minutes to 48 hours, but on average it is about 2 hours. When performing a short test, it is best to drink 0.5 liters of still water.
Vaginal examination
Examination of the genital organs using gynecological speculum is required in order to exclude the presence of concomitant pathologies. During the examination, the doctor may discover:
large fistulas;
prolapse or prolapse of the pelvic organs;
atrophy of the vaginal mucosa. After menopause, estrogen deficiency provokes the development of dry mucous membranes of the genital organs, which can worsen urinary incontinence.
During the examination, a cough test is performed: when you cough, you may notice urine coming out of the urethra.
Analysis of urine
Quite often, in the presence of inflammatory changes in the organs of the urinary system, small portions of urine incontinence develop. Therefore, the detection of leukocytes and red blood cells, as well as bacteria, in the urine suggests the presence of inflammation and conduct additional examination for infection. In order to get accurate results, you should correctly collect urine for analysis:
examine only “morning” urine, the first after sleep;
collect a medium portion;
perform a thorough toilet of the vagina before collecting the analysis;
During collection, cover the vagina with a clean cloth.
Imaging involves conducting an ultrasound examination of the urinary system (analogous to MRI).
Urodynamic studies - make it possible to find out what type of incontinence is present.
Treatment of urinary incontinence in women
Depending on the causes of incontinence in a woman, treatment can be performed by a surgeon in a hospital, a urologist or a gynecologist in a clinic:
treatment of urge incontinence;
treatment of stress incontinence;
general methods of treatment.
Therapy for any type of incontinence should begin with the simplest and most accessible techniques. Among such techniques are special exercises and lifestyle correction.
Lifestyle correction:
Reduce consumption of tea, coffee and other caffeinated drinks. |
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Weight control in the presence of obesity. |
It is an important step in the treatment of any type of incontinence. Extra pounds constantly provoke an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, disrupt the location of internal organs, provoking the development of incontinence. Based on the type of obesity, surgical, medicinal or psychological treatment is used. |
Pelvic floor muscle training. |
The main goal of such training is to restore muscle tone and normalize the functioning of the sphincter, regulating the phases of filling and urination. Thanks to special exercises and devices, a woman is able to fully control the sphincter muscles and thus prevent involuntary urination. |
Establishing a urination routine. |
This method gives a good effect in the presence of urge incontinence. Its essence is to go to the toilet at a certain time, regardless of the strength of the urge. They start with an interval of 30-60 minutes between trips to the toilet, but over time the visiting regime becomes more flexible. |
To give up smoking. |
A huge amount of research has been conducted to identify the relationship between urinary incontinence and tobacco smoking, but the topic remains unexplored. All we can say with certainty is that chronic nicotine bronchitis in the presence of urinary incontinence is a huge problem, since every cough impulse is accompanied by loss of urine. This item also includes the treatment of chronic respiratory tract pathologies. |
Psychological setting to distract attention from the desire to urinate. Treatment of chronic pathologies of the respiratory system. |
Kegel exercises
The essence of such gymnastics is simple. First you need to identify the necessary pelvic floor muscles: periuretal and perivaginal. To do this, you need to imagine the urge to urinate while sitting and make an effort to hold back the imaginary flow of urine. The muscles that are involved in this process need regular training.
They contract and relax three times a day, gradually increasing the time of contraction by a few seconds and up to 2-3 minutes. This process is invisible to others, so such classes can be carried out not only at home, but also while driving in a traffic jam, at work and in other free time.
After muscle control has been established at rest, you can complicate the task: try to perform contractions during sneezing, coughing and other provoking moments. You can also diversify muscle manipulation to get a better effect, for example:
retention of urine stream during actual urination;
pushing out urine (similar to pushing during childbirth);
fast contractions;
slow contractions.
Biofeedback training
The main disadvantage of Kegel exercises is the inability to control their implementation. Quite often, women train other muscles along with the necessary muscles, which leads to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. This can not only undo all the efforts put into training, but also aggravate the pathology.
A set of exercises with biofeedback (BFB) involves the installation of a special device to record muscle tone. Using this device, you can monitor the process of contractions and their correctness, and also, if necessary, perform electrical stimulation. Biofeedback training improves muscle tone and, accordingly, urinary control.
Contraindications for biofeedback training:
severe pathologies of the liver, kidneys, heart;
inflammatory diseases in their acute phase;
Use of special simulators
To combat urinary incontinence in women with the help of exercises, many compact devices have been created that allow you to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and perform exercises effectively.
One such trainer is the PelvicToner. This device, which is based on a spring, allows you to correctly and gradually increase the load on a woman’s intimate muscles, strengthening them. This simulator is easy to use and maintain, and its effectiveness is confirmed by clinical trials.
Psychological training
If you have a strong urge to urinate, you should try to distract yourself from them. Everyone will find their own ways: take a nap, read an interesting book, think about plans for the day. The main task is to distract the brain from the need to go to the toilet, at least for a short time.
Treatment of stress incontinence
In addition to the general incontinence treatments described above, treating stress incontinence requires medical intervention. Conservative treatment with medications is not very popular because it rarely helps.
Drug treatment
In the presence of a mild degree of stress incontinence, in which the anatomical structures maintain their integrity, in some cases the following is used:
The antidepressant Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is effective in half the cases, but has side effects on the digestive system.
Anticholinesterase drugs (Ubretide) increase muscle tone. Recommended for women who have been diagnosed with bladder hypotension during diagnosis.
Adrenergic agonists (“Gutron”) increase the tone of the urethra and sphincter, but at the same time they also affect vascular tone. It is used quite rarely due to its insignificant effectiveness and many side effects, especially increased blood pressure.
Treatment of stress urinary incontinence with tablets is quite rare due to many side effects and frequent relapses.
Surgical treatment
If a woman has stress urinary incontinence, surgery is the treatment of choice. There are several surgical procedures that vary depending on the degree of complexity of their execution. Preference for each method is given depending on the anatomical features of the urethra and the degree of incontinence.
Contraindications for any type of surgical treatment are:
blood coagulation disease;
diabetes mellitus in the decompensation phase;
inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, which are at the acute stage;
malignant neoplasms.
Sling operations (TVT- O, TVT)
These interventions are minimally invasive and are performed within 30 minutes under local anesthesia. The essence of such an intervention is extremely simple: the introduction of a special synthetic mesh in the form of a loop under the neck of the bladder or into the urethra.
Such a loop holds the urethra in its physiological position, preventing urine from leaking due to increased intra-abdominal pressure.
To insert such a mesh, several or just one incision is made in the vagina or in the inguinal fold; no cosmetic defect is formed. Over time, such a mesh grows into the connective tissue and firmly fixes the urethra.
Recovery after such interventions occurs quite quickly, and the effect is felt immediately. Despite the obvious attractiveness of sling operations, the risk of relapse remains. In addition, with anatomical defects of the urethra and detrusor instability, such surgical intervention may be unsuccessful.
Despite the difficulties listed above, today minimally invasive loop operations are the “gold standard” in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
Injections of volume-forming drugs
During this manipulation, under the control of a cytoscope, a special substance is injected into the submucous membrane of the urethra. In most cases, it is a synthetic material that has hypoallergenic properties.
This leads to replacement of missing tissues (soft) and restoration of the anatomical position of the urethra. The procedure is also low-traumatic and is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, but also does not exclude relapses.
Laparoscopic colposuspension byBurch
The operation is performed under general anesthesia in most cases through a laparoscopic approach. The tissues that are located around the urethra are suspended from the inguinal ligaments. These ligaments are super strong, so the long-term results of such operations are very convincing.
However, due to the type of anesthesia and the complexity of the procedure, colposuspension has more complications and contraindications compared to sling operations. Typically, such interventions are performed after relapse of the loop procedure or in the presence of anatomical abnormalities in the structure of the genitourinary apparatus.
Colporrhaphy
Suturing the vagina using special absorbable threads, which is used for prolapse of organs in the pelvis. The operation has a number of complications (for example, tissue scarring), and its effect is lost after several years.
Treatment of urge incontinence
Unlike stress incontinence, surgeries are ineffective for urgency incontinence. All women with a similar problem should first try general treatment methods. Only if they are ineffective can we talk about drug therapy.
Drug treatment
When treating urge urinary incontinence, tablets have a good effect. There are several classes of medications, the main task of which is to restore normal regulation of the urination process by the nervous system.
Drugs that reduce the tone of the bladder walls reduce the frequency and strength of contractions. The most common are: Vesicare, Spazmex, Detruziol, Driptan.
Drugs that relax the bladder during the filling phase and improve blood circulation: “Omnic”, “Kaldura”, “Dalfaz”.
For urinary incontinence in women during menopause, when estrogen deficiency is clearly expressed, replacement therapy with special ointments or hormonal drugs is used. An example of such an ointment is Ovestin, a cream that contains estrogen. The use of such an ointment relieves itching of the mucous membranes and reduces dryness, thus reducing the frequency of urinary incontinence.
Treating the problem of urinary incontinence in women is a complex task that requires an integrated approach and strict adherence to all the instructions of the attending physician. A few simple rules make it possible to avoid or delay an episode of this pathology as much as possible.
Prevention of urinary incontinence
Give up bad habits.
Lose excess weight (with the help of a specialist or on your own).
Try to create a routine for urination. It is quite possible to train your body to empty your bladder at certain times. For example, before getting ready for work in the morning, during lunch break, upon arrival from work. The main thing is to strengthen this habit.
Maintain the body's water balance. You need to drink about 1.5-2 liters of still water daily. Insufficient and excessive drinking can harm the body.
Keep a positive attitude and enjoy life.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles before pregnancy will help avoid ruptures during childbirth.
Fight constipation, if present. To do this, it is enough to eat foods that contain a lot of fiber (figs, prunes, fruits, vegetables), follow a drinking regime, and drink half a glass of kefir before bed. If you have chronic constipation, you can use herbal laxatives (after consulting a doctor).
Reduce consumption of salty foods and caffeinated drinks.
Main conclusions:
Urinary incontinence is a fairly common problem among women.
Urinary problems are unlikely to go away on their own without treatment.
To determine the type of incontinence, it is necessary to undergo an examination, including filling out a questionnaire and keeping a urination diary.
Stress incontinence is treated with surgical intervention, imperative incontinence is treated with conservative treatment.
You can independently engage in the prevention of incontinence by strengthening your pelvic muscles and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Urinary incontinence is a serious problem that requires treatment. It is better to spend some time visiting a doctor and getting her treatment than to suffer from torment and embarrassment all your life.
This problem is familiar to many women.
Often, after giving birth, young girls turn to specialized specialists about periodic disorders of the genitourinary system, however, older ladies also complain to urologists about the inconveniences that accompany them for a long time. Urinary incontinence in women, causes and treatment - this is the main question that requires an immediate response from medical professionals. Fear of the thought of sudden urination drives some females to psychological breakdowns, causes depression, interferes with an active sex life and interferes with personal growth. The international community of urologists, concerned about this medical topic, is constantly researching this problem and looking for all kinds of methods and treatments.
Type classification of urinary incontinence
Incontinence or urinary incontinence in older women is a fairly common urological problem that is characterized by involuntary urination. However, this disease of the genitourinary system has become significantly younger. Today, more and more young girls are turning to urologists with similar disorders. A disease such as incotinence has its own species classification, which is defined as follows:
- stressful;
- urgent or imperative;
- mixed;
- iatrogenic;
- other types.
The first three types of urinary incontinence have clear symptoms and are typical exclusively for the female audience.
Urinary incontinence in women: causes and symptoms of the disease
The majority of all cases of uncontrolled urination in the female half of humanity can be classified as stress incontinence. The main cause of this pathology is dysfunction of the urinary tract sphincter, a special muscle of the genitourinary system. Periodically occurring increased intra-abdominal pressure leads to a weakening of the sphincter, resulting in a slight leakage of urine or complete emptying of the bladder. Symptomatic signs of stress urinary incontinence include:
- accidental urination during certain physical activities: coughing, laughing, straining, or during sexual intercourse;
- urge to urinate for no reason;
- joint emptying of feces and urine.
The cause-and-effect relationship of stress incontinence can be very different:
- Pregnancy, when, against the background of general hormonal changes, there is pressure from the uterus on the pelvic organs.
- Childbirth. This mainly occurs when the perineum ruptures, when the damaged pelvic floor muscles cannot cope with their work, and the weakened sphincter ceases to function normally.
- Traumatic conditions or surgical interventions in the pelvic organs. Any manipulation of the rectum, bladder and/or uterus leads to changes in pressure, which, in turn, can cause urinary incontinence.
- Age-related cataclysms. With age, a woman’s entire muscular system loses its former elasticity, which significantly weakens the overall functioning of the genitourinary system, and the sphincter in particular. Estrogen deficiency during menopause can also cause urinary incontinence.
Secondary causes of stress incontinence related to risk factors are:
- anemia;
- disorders of the digestive system and the gastrointestinal tract in general;
- excess body weight;
- infectious conditions of the urinary tract;
- some chronic diseases associated with neurological pathology;
- genetic predisposition.
The main symptoms of imperative incontinence include the following signs of the disease:
- the urge to urinate appears more often than usual and always occurs spontaneously;
- a woman is overcome by an irresistible desire to urinate;
- the urge to urinate is provoked by some external circumstances.
Only a highly professional specialist in the field of female urology can determine the fine line between stressful and imperative incontinence. Only after establishing the correct diagnosis, the doctor prescribes appropriate medications for urinary incontinence in women.
Iatrogenic incontinence is the result of an inadequate and/or incorrectly chosen treatment method. It is believed that this type of incontinence is a side effect after taking certain pharmacological drugs and medications. Therefore, once again it is worth paying attention to how and with what to treat urinary incontinence in women, only a highly qualified urologist can determine. Urinary disorders can be caused by certain pharmacological groups and combinations, for example:
- sedative pharmaceutical groups and/or antidepressants;
- any drugs that have a diuretic effect;
- colchicine;
- hormonal groups containing estrogen;
- various adrenergic agonists and other drugs.
As a rule, after completion of the course of treatment, all healthy functionality of the genitourinary system is restored.
Urinary incontinence: treatment of the disease
The choice of treatment for incontinence depends on the established diagnosis and can be carried out by various specialists: urologists, gynecologists and/or surgeons. Urinary incontinence in women, treatment with pills and general lifestyle adjustments, is the main method of therapeutic intervention. At the initial stage, with a mild form of stress incontinence, it will be sufficient to follow certain rules. First of all this:
- control over your own weight with extra pounds in order to normalize intra-abdominal pressure;
- compliance with certain norms and rules of nutrition, that is, limiting the consumption of liquids, for example, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, and so on;
- establishing a routine for going to the toilet. This is when urination is carried out at a strictly defined time and at intermediate intervals not exceeding 30-40 minutes;
- treatment of concomitant acute and/or chronic diseases;
- psychological trainings;
- exercises to restore the functions of the sphincter and tone the entire muscular system of the pelvis.
There are special Kegel exercises for women with urinary incontinence, the essence of which is to train the periurethral and perivaginal muscle groups. Having learned to control the pelvic floor muscles by relaxing and/or contracting them in various provoking situations, for example, coughing, sneezing, and so on, a woman is then able to spontaneously manipulate various situations during urination. When prescribing pharmacological drugs, those medications for urinary incontinence in women are used that help increase muscle tone. However, due to possible relapses and side effects, this method of therapeutic intervention is highly undesirable.
Treatment of urinary incontinence in women: reviews of the Kegel technique
Natalia Vasilyeva, 25 years old, Novomoskovsk (Ukraine):
“I learned about exercises using the Arnold Kegel method after I gave birth to a child. The birth was difficult, and after three months, I began to observe changes in myself. Spontaneous urination began to cause me a lot of trouble. Having addressed the problem to the antenatal clinic, the observing gynecologist recommended these exercises to me. I studied the entire necessary set of gymnastics to normalize muscle tone on my own. After a month of training, the problem disappeared on its own. Girls who suffer from this disease, I recommend A. Kegel’s technique to everyone. Class!"
Maria Konstantinovna, 65 years old, Mogilev (Belarus):
“I’m not a young woman, but I don’t want to be considered an old woman either, but here it’s such grief. I’m ashamed to admit that, like an ancient grandmother, urine flows spontaneously. I began to study various information on how to help myself. As a result, I found these Kegel exercises. Now I have no problem with this issue.”
Victoria Krombelstein, 34 years old, Tel Aviv (Israel):
“After divorcing my husband, my mood was terrible, everything irritated me and drove me crazy. In addition, I began to notice a strange pattern behind me. Leaving the house and walking a few meters, I experienced elementary incontinence. I’m ashamed to put into words what I did, but the result was zero. Tablets and various medications for urinary incontinence in women did not help me, it was a little cold or hot, I went to the toilet. In short, I suffered. I shared my problem with a friend, and it turned out that I was not alone. Marinka also experienced the same thing. Dr. Kegel exercises helped her cope with the situation. I started working out, and after two weeks, I felt that everything was normal. This is just a miracle!"
Surgery
Surgery for urinary incontinence in women is the most extreme measure, and such radical treatment is used only for severe forms of stress incontinence. In modern conditions, surgical intervention provides effective and less traumatic methods of surgical manipulation. The operation consists of threading a loop under the bladder in the place where there is a transition to the urethra. The surgeon's further actions are to change the angle between the urethra and the bladder itself, thanks to which the woman will be able to retain her urine in the future. There is also a laparoscopic method, which involves a small incision of the skin 3-4 cm above the pubis. The entire procedure takes no more than one hour and is absolutely painless for women.
Treatment of incotinence in folk medicine
In addition to traditional methods of official medicine, treatment of urinary incontinence in women with folk remedies gives excellent results. It is enough to turn to prescription sources on traditional medicine to find effective and easy-to-use traditional methods of treatment. All of them have been tested over the years and have been used for many generations.
Herbal collection No. 1. For treatment, it is necessary to select the appropriate ingredients and maintain the proportional ratio:
- 50 g yarrow herb;
- 100 g of May nettle leaves;
- 100 g marshmallow root.
After thoroughly mixing all the medicinal components, you need to add 500 ml of boiled water to the herbal mixture. It is advisable to prepare everything in a thermos. 10-12 hours are enough for the broth to be ready. After straining throughout the day, take 30 ml before each meal. The course of treatment is unlimited.
Herbal collection No. 2. The following medicinal components will be needed:
- wheatgrass rhizome – 150 g;
- violet herb – 150 g;
- yarrow – 150 g.
All collected ingredients are mixed, poured with a liter of water and put on fire. After boiling, remove the broth from the heat and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Take 50 ml daily every 3 hours. The course of treatment is limited to 10-14 days.
Herbal collection No. 3. To prepare a homemade remedy we will need:
- centaury grass – 50 g;
- chicory root – 100 g;
- yarrow – 100 g.
All medicinal components are crushed and mixed thoroughly. For two tablespoons of dry collection you will need ½ liter of boiling water. After settling for 1.5 hours, the decoction is ready for use. Take half a glass 4-5 times a day for 10 days.