Urinary Incontinence Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Urinary incontinence is a urinary disorder (BAK), in which a person cannot control the process of urinating. There are many variations of this disease. Starting from the urine that seeps out when you cough or sneeze, to the feeling of wanting to urinate so intensely and suddenly that someone can wet their pants because they don’t have time to go to the toilet.
There are several types of urinary incontinence, namely:
- stress incontinence, which is a condition where urine is released when the bladder is under pressure, such as when coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
- urge incontinence, which is the condition when urine comes out when you have a very intense and sudden urge to urinate.
- Overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention), is the inability to empty the bladder so that you often wet the bed.
- total incontinence, namely the condition of the inability of the bladder to store urine at all so that it always wets the bed.
- mixed incontinence.
Symptoms
A common symptom of urinary incontinence is involuntary or conscious urination. How and when bedwetting occurs depends on the type of incontinence.
Symptoms include:
- BAK during sports, coughing, sneezing, or laughing
- BAK in your pants because you want to urinate, which is very intense and sudden, so you don’t have time to go to the toilet
- BAK when changing position
- BAK when you hear the sound of running water
- BAK during sexual intercourse
- BAK little by little continuously
- BAK is not complete or wishful thinking
- always urinate in large quantities, especially at night
Reason
Stress incontinence is caused by weakening or damage to the muscles that prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter (the opening for urine).
Urge incontinence is usually caused by the overactivity of the detrusor muscle that controls the bladder. In addition, it can be caused by consuming too much alcohol and caffeine.
Overflow incontinence is usually caused by a blockage in the bladder that prevents it from emptying completely. It can also be caused by an enlarged prostate.
Total incontinence is usually caused by problems with the bladder from birth, spinal cord injuries or the presence of fistulas (new passages) in the bladder.
In addition, there are several risk factors that can cause urinary incontinence, such as:
- Pregnancy and vaginal delivery
- Obesity
- Family history
- Aging
Diagnosis
Doctors can establish a diagnosis of urinary incontinence through the symptoms that occur. A physical examination of the pelvis will be performed for women and an examination of the anus will be carried out for men.
In about half of women who experience stress incontinence, it is found that part of the bladder protrudes into the vagina. While in men, an enlarged prostate gland can cause symptoms such as urinary incontinence, namely frequent urination.
Investigations such as a dipstick test can be done to find out the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. An ultrasound scan test is done to find out the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urinating. While cystoscopy with an endoscope is done to check for abnormalities that cause urinary incontinence. Urodynamic tests may also be performed to check bladder and urethral function.
Treatment
Treatment of urinary incontinence includes:
- Lifestyle changes, losing weight and limiting alcohol and caffeine will help with the treatment process
- Do pelvic floor exercises
- Do bladder exercises
- Use absorbent pads
- Treatment with a doctor’s prescription is usually in the form of duloxetine, antimuscarinic, mirabegron, desmopressin
- Surgery such as tape or sling procedures for stress incontinence
Prevention
You can do the following tips to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence:
- maintain weight
- avoiding or limiting alcohol and caffeine
- Do pelvic floor muscle exercises to make them strong
- avoid smoking