Things You'll Need:
- - Knowledge of Urinary incontinence
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Step 1
Understand what urinary incontinence is. The first step is to understand what incontinence is. Urinary incontinence is the unintentional or accidental release of urine that usually occurs when an individual is coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jogging. Sometimes the individual can’t make it to the bathroom in time. Incontinence can be short-term or long-term.
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Step 2
Urinary incontinence can be a short-term problem. Constipation, medications, or a urinary tract infection can be the cause for short-term incontinence. Short-term urinary incontinence gets better if you treat the problem causing it (i.e. taking medication to treat the urinary tract infection).
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Step 3
What is stress incontinence? Stress incontinence occurs when you do something to put pressure on your bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jogging. It is a long-term problem.
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Step 4
What is urge incontinence? Urge incontinence occurs when you feel like you have to go to the bathroom, but don’t make it to the toilet in time. This can happen if your bladder is full or if you only have a small amount of urine in your bladder. Some women leak urine if they drink water or hear the sound of running water and others leak urine without any warning at all. An overactive bladder can also be a type of urge incontinence.
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Step 5
What causes stress incontinence? Stress incontinence can be caused by weight gain, childbirth, or other conditions that cause the pelvic floor muscles to be stretched out. When these muscles are stretched out, they cannot support the bladder properly and the bladder drops down and falls into the vagina. You can’t tighten the muscles that close off the urethra, so small or medium amounts of urine may be released when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise.
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Step 6
What causes urge incontinence? Urge incontinence can be caused by an overactive bladder, which pushes urine out of the bladder. The overactive bladder may be caused by emotional stress, irritation of the bladder, or brain conditions such as a stroke or Parkinson’s Disease. The urine may leak out in larger amount, soaking the clothes or running down the leg.
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Step 7
Can urinary incontinence be treated? Your doctor will diagnose your condition and may recommend medications or surgery. Doing Kegel exercises is one of the best ways to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and treat stress incontinence. Your doctor may also suggest a pessary, which is a removable device placed in the vagina that helps to reduce stress incontinence by putting pressure on the urethra. To treat urge incontinence, your doctor may prescribe medication or suggest behavioral modifications, such as training your bladder to wait longer before releasing urine.
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Step 8
Urinary incontinence is a common thing found among women and can be treated. It can be prevented early on if an individual does Kegel exercises. Rest assured you are not the only woman to ever have urinary incontinence. Stay strong and keep going!
