Women’s Incontinence

• Reasons Why You Should See a Doctor for Urinary Incontinence
• Overactive Bladder in Women
• Incontinence After Pregnancy
• Exercise-Induced Incontinence

Reasons Why You Should See a Doctor for Urinary Incontinence

Feeling embarrassed about a bladder control issue isn’t a good reason to not see a doctor. Also, don't fall for the myth that, just because you had children or are getting older, incontinence is a given—plenty of mothers and older women have no such problem. There are lots of good reasons why you should consult your healthcare provider:

• Urinary incontinence could be the side effect of a medication, which means that fixing it would be as easy as having your healthcare provider switch you to a new medicine.
• No matter how embarrassed you might be about incontinence, your doctor has seen it all. In the unlikely event that he or she doesn't take you seriously, you have every right to go find someone who will.
• Remember that incontinence is a symptom, not a disease. It's important to find out the root cause to make sure there's not a serious medical problem causing it.
• Urinary incontinence could be related to your diet, making treatment as easy as changing the food you eat.
• While you might be concerned about the cost of addressing incontinence, getting to the bottom of the problem usually costs less over time than purchasing bladder control pads, female incontinence undergarments, and mattress protectors, especially if you have a treatable condition.

Most importantly, knowing and understanding the root of your urinary incontinence will alleviate stress. After all, you have to know what the problem is in order to begin to solve it. You can also take comfort in the fact that, in the meantime, there are plenty of products available to help you cope with the problem.

Overactive Bladder in Women

Overactive bladder (OAB), which is also known as "urge incontinence," affects nearly 34 million people, most of whom are women. The cause of OAB is unknown. In those who suffer from it, the bladder spasms, resulting in frequent and usually sudden urges to urinate. Most people with OAB have accidents because the urge comes on so quickly and intensely that they can't make it to the bathroom in time.

It's important to remember that loss of bladder control is not a disease, but a symptom. An accurate diagnosis of your specific urinary control problem is the key to proper treatment. Get educated about incontinence issues, work with your healthcare provider to establish a treatment plan, and protect yourself with products that will bring you both physical comfort and peace of mind. Bladder control pads for example, look similar to menstrual pads and panty liners, but are actually far more absorbent and utilize technology created specifically to absorb and neutralize urine.

Incontinence After Pregnancy

The majority of people who suffer from urinary incontinence are women. One major contributor to the problem is pregnancy and childbirth. The pressure and stress that's applied to the internal organs and muscles of the lower abdomen and pelvic floor during pregnancy can have a negative effect on the function of the bladder and sphincter. Additionally, the weight of the fetus in the uterus pulls the internal organs downward, which tends to stretch everything out a bit. Unfortunately, things don't necessarily bounce back after childbirth. During childbirth, there may be trauma to the vagina and rectum, which can affect the flow of waste, and the stretching that allows the baby to pass through the birth canal may also remain afterwards.

Some women opt for surgery to improve the internal support of the bladder and pelvic floor. Others correct the problem through Kegel exercises, which help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles in order to improve control over the bladder. Pelvic muscle trainers are available to help make sure the exercises are performed properly.

Regardless of which approach you take, following your healthcare provider's advice and using protective undergarments just in case will ensure that you remain comfortable in the knowledge that you're prepared for anything. For the light incontinence that can follow pregnancy and childbirth, try products like Depends protective underwear, Serenity pads, or Poise pads.

Exercise-Induced Incontinence

There are several types of incontinence that affect women, and one in particular is associated with physical activity—exercise-induced incontinence. Like any other type of incontinence, the resulting embarrassment prevents some female athletes, even elite athletes, from mentioning that they have experienced this condition at all. In fact, it may become such a problem that they actually give up the sport or activity they love because of the frustration of ongoing urine leaks.

During intense physical activity or exertion, intra-abdominal tension increases. If the breath is held while exerting a maximal effort, such as that required to lift heavy weights or sprint at top speeds, the pressure created is called the Valsalva maneuver. The tension from this maneuver presses on the internal organs, including the bladder. And, since neurological and vascular activity in the body is directed to the large muscle groups that are working, the muscles that control bladder output aren’t working. This compromises the ability of the bladder and urethra to control the exit of urine. The result is leakage.

Kegel exercises, which are used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, are the best means of protection against exercise-induced incontinence. Until that muscle support kicks in, wearing a protective pad during physical activity is a good way to avoid the frustration and inconvenience of an unexpected urine leak.