Urinary incontinence is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from the occasional leakage of urine when you cough or sneeze, to a need to urinate so suddenly and strongly that you don't make it to the toilet in time.

What is urinary incontinence?

By urinary incontinence we mean that a person accidentally loses urine. This condition occurs most commonly in women and the elderly. Bladder control problems can be embarrassing and cause people to avoid their normal activities. That's why it's good to know that this condition can often be controlled or treated completely.

What are the causes of urinary incontinence?

Located in the lower abdomen, the urinary bladder is a hollow organ that is part of the urinary system. During urination, the bladder muscles contract to move urine into the urethra. At the same time, the muscles around the urethra relax and allow the urine to leave the body. When the muscles in and around the bladder don't work as they should, urine can leak, leading to urinary incontinence.

Incontinence can occur for many reasons, including urinary tract infections, vaginal conditions, or constipation. Some medications can cause bladder control problems that last for a short time. When incontinence lasts longer, it can be for the following reasons:

• Weakening of the bladder or pelvic floor muscles

• Hyperactivity of the bladder muscles

• Damage to the nerves that control the bladder

• Diseases such as arthritis that can make it difficult to get to the bathroom on time

• Pelvic organ prolapse - this occurs when pelvic organs (such as the bladder, rectum or uterus) move from their normal place into the vagina or anus.

Often, urinary incontinence in men is related to the prostate gland. Male incontinence can be caused by:

• Prostatitis, a painful inflammation of the prostate gland

• Damage to the nerves or muscles of the bladder due to surgery

• An enlarged prostate, which can lead to benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate enlarges as men age

Symptoms & Types of urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine. This condition has several causes and can be divided into several types:

Stress urinary incontinence

Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks out due to pressure on the bladder during activities that involve effort - such as during exercise, coughing, straining, laughing or when lifting heavy objects. It is the most common type of bladder control problem in young and middle-aged women. There are cases where stress urinary incontinence also starts at older ages, around the menopause.

Urgent / hyperactive incontinence

Urge or urge incontinence occurs when you feel an urgent need to urinate that is followed by an involuntary loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. This condition can be caused by a minor problem, such as an infection, or a more serious illness, such as a neurological disorder or diabetes.

Overflow urinary incontinence

In overflow incontinence, the bladder is always full, which leads to involuntary leakage. Most often, this type of condition is caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia in men, diabetes or certain neurological conditions. To prevent the discomfort caused by overflow incontinence, use ENROUSH 100% organic cotton daily absorbent pads . Thanks to their design of 100% organic cotton and natural fibres, with a neutral pH, you will have increased protection against infection and irritation.

Functional urinary incontinence

Functional incontinence is a physical or mental deficiency that prevents you from reaching the toilet on time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to move quickly enough to get to the bathroom.

Mixed urinary incontinence

In the case of mixed urinary incontinence, affected people suffer from more than one type of urinary incontinence - most often this condition combines stress incontinence and hyperactive incontinence.

Reflex incontinence

In this condition, the bladder muscle contracts suddenly, resulting in large losses of urine that occur without warning or impulse. Reflex incontinence is caused by serious neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Urinary incontinence - Causes

Urinary incontinence can be caused by everyday habits, certain medical conditions or physical problems. A thorough evaluation by your doctor can help determine the cause of your incontinence.

Temporary urinary incontinence

Certain drinks, substances, medicines or foods can have a negative effect on the activity of the bladder because they act as diuretics. These include:

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Carbonated drinks and sparkling water

• Artificial sweeteners

• Chocolate

• Hot peppers

• Foods that contain high amounts of sugar or acid

• Certain heart or muscle relaxant medications

• High doses of vitamin C

Urinary incontinence can also be caused by easily treatable medical conditions, such as:

• Urinary tract infections. Infections can irritate your bladder, causing a strong need to urinate and sometimes incontinence.

• Constipation. The rectum is located near the bladder, sharing many nerves. Hard, compacted stool in the rectum causes these nerves to be overactive and increase urinary frequency.

Persistent urinary incontinence

When it is a persistent problem, urinary incontinence is most often caused by physical changes such as:

• Task. Hormonal changes and increased fetal weight can lead to stress incontinence.

• Birth. Vaginal birth can weaken the muscles needed to control the bladder and damage the bladder's nerves and supporting tissue, causing the pelvic floor to drop (prolapse).

• Age-related changes such as aging of the bladder muscle

• Menopause. After menopause, the lining of the bladder and urethra begins a process of deterioration, due to the low level of estrogen in the body.

Urinary incontinence caused by diseases

There are several conditions that can cause urinary incontinence:

• Enlarged prostate. Especially in older men, incontinence is often caused by an enlarged prostate gland, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Untreated prostate cancer can cause urinary incontinence. It can also be a side effect of treatments for this type of oncological condition.

• Obstruction. A tumor located anywhere along the urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine, leading to excessive incontinence.

• Neurological disorders. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, brain tumors, or spinal cord injuries can interfere with the nerve signals involved in bladder control, causing urinary incontinence.

Cystitis can lead to an increased need to urinate. Discover more about this condition HERE

Diagnosis - Urinary incontinence

In order to diagnose urinary incontinence, the specialist must take a thorough history. It is important for him to find out the frequency of urination during the day and at night, the potential treatments performed by the patient, the amount of fluids consumed per day and other problems that occur during urination.

The specialist doctor will also recommend a series of investigations, based on which he will make the diagnosis of urinary incontinence.

• Urinalysis

• Blood tests

• General physical examination

• Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound

• Urodynamic testing

• X-ray of the bladder

• Cystoscopy

Treatment - Urinary incontinence

Today, there are several treatments and ways to manage urinary incontinence. The choice of treatment depends on the type of problem, how severe it is and what fits best with your lifestyle. As a general rule, the simplest and safest treatments should be tried first.

A combination of treatments can help you get better bladder control.

Treatment of urinary incontinence in women

For women, depending on how severe the condition is, doctors may recommend both non-invasive and invasive treatments.

• Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, which can help you hold urine and prevent leakage.

• Suppressing the urge helps control strong urges to urinate so you can make it to the toilet in time. For example, you can try to distract yourself from thinking about the need to urinate with breathing exercises

• Vaginal estrogen cream can help relieve urge or stress incontinence.

• Medical devices may also be used to manage urinary incontinence. For example, a vaginal pessary ring can reduce leakage.

Treatment of urinary incontinence in men

In the case of men, different treatment methods can be recommended that aim to treat possible obstructions or relieve symptoms.

• Timed voiding is used to help you control your bladder by timing when to urinate. For example, you can set a schedule to urinate every hour.

• Surgery can sometimes relieve or cure incontinence if it is caused by a change in the position of the bladder or a blockage due to an enlarged prostate.

• Electrical nerve stimulation sends mild electrical currents to the nerves around the bladder, which help control urination and bladder reflexes.

Treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly

Drug treatment is most often recommended for the elderly to relax overactive bladder and tone its muscles. Among the prescribed medicines we list:

• Anticholinergics to calm bladder hyperactivity

• Alpha-blockers to relax the bladder muscles

Risk factors for urinary incontinence

Although urinary incontinence cannot always be prevented, it is important to remember that there are certain risk factors that predispose you to developing it. These include:

• Sex, with women being more prone to developing stress incontinence

• Age

• Obesity.. Extra weight increases pressure on the bladder and surrounding muscles, which weakens them and allows urine to leak out involuntarily.

• Tobacco consumption

• Family history, urinary incontinence being a condition that can be genetically inherited

• Neurological diseases or diabetes

Urinary incontinence in pregnancy

During pregnancy, the fetus can put a lot of pressure on the bladder. This can cause unwanted leakage of urine. Bladder control problems can occur both during pregnancy and after birth, especially if complications such as pelvic organ prolapse, weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, or damage to the pelvic nerves intervene. Kegel exercises are often recommended to help strengthen your pelvic muscles and regain bladder control.

Urinary incontinence in children

Children under 3 do not have complete control over their bladder. As they grow older, they most often manage to successfully control their bladder. When they present urinary incontinence problems at ages over 5 years for girls or 6 years for boys, the phenomenon is called enuresis.

Bedwetting can be caused by a number of factors such as:

• Anxiety

• ADHD

• Diet

• Delayed physical development

• Overactive bladder

• Genetic problems

• Other ailments

Most of the time, urinary incontinence in children goes away on its own. However, there are different types of non-invasive treatment that can help them. For example:

• Monitoring the amount of liquid they consume

• Eliminating caffeine from their daily diet

• Using alarms to remind them to go to the toilet

• Drug treatment that calms the overactive bladder

When should you go to the doctor?

See your family doctor if you have any type of urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a common problem and you shouldn't feel embarrassed to talk to him about your symptoms. A simple medical consultation can be the first step to fix the problem.

Complications - Urinary incontinence

Chronic urinary incontinence can cause a number of complications, which include:

• Skin problems. Rashes, skin infections and sores can develop because the skin is constantly wet

• Urinary tract infections

• Impact on your personal life. Urinary incontinence can affect your social, professional and personal relationships.

Prevention - Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence cannot always be prevented. However, to reduce your risk:

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Practice pelvic floor exercises like yoga, Pilates and Kegel exercises

• Avoid bladder irritants: caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods

• Eat more fiber, which can prevent constipation

• Do not smoke or seek help to quit if you are a smoker