Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 05:00 AM

Incontinence in women: why you shouldn't be embarrassed

You probably know that urinary incontinence is when you accidentally leak urine.

Embarrassing right? 

Well, not really. What you may not know is that it’s a problem that affects millions of Americans, most of them women. So if you struggle with incontinence, you’re in good company.

The real problem happens when your embarrassment keeps you from talking to your doctor about it.

Don’t assume that leaking bladder or rushing relief is a normal part of aging and keep it to yourself.

The 3 different types of incontinence

• Stress incontinence. With this type, urine leaks due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and tissues. It can happen when pressure on your bladder increases—such as when you exercise, laugh, sneeze or cough.

• Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder. This causes an urgent need to go to the bathroom and you may not get there in time.

• Mixed incontinence means you have any two types of the condition. About one-third of women have both stress and urge incontinence.

What you can do about it

For urge incontinence, medications usually work. 

For stress incontinence, women should try pelvic floor exercises and bladder training first. If you've had a baby, chances are you've been told to do Kegel exercises. These help strengthen the pelvic floor after childbirth. Well, they also help prevent stress incontinence. Best of all, you can do Kegels anytime, anywhere.

You and your doctor may decide that surgery is necessary for stress incontinence and, rarely, urge incontinence. If so, your chances are good. Surgical treatments produce significant improvement in up to 98 percent of cases. 

What is bladder prolapse?

Lastly, a related problem that affects bladder function is prolapse. Prolapse can cause discomfort and pain and may prevent the bladder from emptying completely. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which structures such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall, out of their normal positions. Without medical treatment or surgery, these structures may eventually fall farther into the vagina or even through the vaginal opening if their supports weaken enough.

If you've been having bladder problems, hopefully this knowledge will give you the confidence to open up to your doctor. Imagine a life without habitually checking to see where the closest restroom is every where you go. You can have that life.

Dr. Shassberger is part of the Medical Centers OB/GYN's team at their south location. Find a list of OB/GYN’s here.