What Urinary Incontinence Treatments Are Available?

Health & Medical Blog

Urinary incontinence is a condition that can affect people of all ages and occurs when the bladder is unable to control itself to hold urine. People with this condition often find themselves urinating at inappropriate times, and involuntary urination is often known to occur among sufferers when they cough, sneeze or laugh. Fortunately, urinary incontinence is usually a treatable condition for most people, and a qualified medical professional can recommend certain urinary incontinence treatment options that may help stop involuntary urination. 

Exercises

Certain exercises that are designed to strengthen the pelvic floor can often correct urinary incontinence that is caused by weak muscles in the region. Tightening the muscles that are used to stop urine flow and holding the contraction for a few seconds at a time throughout the day can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Kegel exercises, which often work well for women and men, can be performed by standing in a sitting position while contracting the pelvic floor muscles. Exercising in general to lose weight can also help keep urinary incontinence under better control.

Medications

Some cases of urinary incontinence need to be treated with prescription medicines for the best results. Oxybutynin and tolterodine are two of the most commonly prescribed medications for urinary incontinence. If the condition has caused any infections in the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract to develop, antibiotics can also be prescribed. Even Botox injections can help treat urinary incontinence by relaxing muscles that cause an overactive bladder.

Pessary Insertion

Women who suffer from urinary incontinence often find relief from having pessaries inserted into their vaginal regions. Pessaries may be especially helpful for women who have given birth and developed uterine prolapse, which occurs when part of the uterus sinks downward into the vagina and often causes urinary incontinence. A pessary should be inserted by a trained doctor and worn at all times except when it needs to be cleaned.

Surgery

Different surgical treatments are available to stop urinary incontinence, and surgery is only usually recommended when other treatments that are more conservative have failed. Women often experience promising results after undergoing sling surgery, which involves surgically implanting a sling beneath the urethra to control leakage. Men who have urinary incontinence because of enlarged prostates may respond well to prostate surgery or medications to shrink the prostate.

Struggling with urinary incontinence can be embarrassing and take away from many of the enjoyments in life, but treatment for the condition may put an end to the uncontrollable leakage. A doctor who is experienced in treating urinary incontinence can perform all the proper testing to make a correct diagnosis and provide treatment that is designed to offer a long-term solution. 

Share

6 April 2021

Managing Chronic Heartburn: Solutions And Tips

As I've gotten older, I've found that my body is less able to tolerate spicy, greasy, and heavy foods. While I never used to struggle with heartburn, it's become a common occurrence. I spent a lot of time talking with my doctor and reading about all kinds of heartburn relief options. After trying a lot of different options, I finally found that there are a few things that work exceptionally well. I created this site to journal my experience with chronic heartburn and the treatment options that I've tried. I hope that it helps you if you're struggling with heartburn problems as well.