What is Urinary Incontinence? Causes, Treatment Methods and Prevention Ways

Urinary incontinence (medically known as urinary incontinence) is the involuntary loss of urine caused by loss of urinary control. This problem usually occurs in women after birth, during menopause or with aging. Urinary incontinence can be triggered by situations such as stress, straining, coughing or sneezing, or it can occur as a result of a sudden need to urinate. This problem, which is commonly encountered in society, can negatively affect the quality of daily life and restrict the person's social life.


 

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the situation in which a person cannot hold their urine involuntarily and leaks urine uncontrollably. This condition, which is common in women, usually occurs after birth, during menopause or with aging. Urinary incontinence can manifest itself in different types:

Types of Urinary Incontinence:

• Stress Incontinence: It is a type of urinary incontinence that occurs with physical strain such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting heavy objects. It occurs as a result of weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Urge Incontinence (Urgent Urinary Incontinence): It is a situation of involuntary urine leakage together with a sudden and intense desire to urinate. It occurs with uncontrolled contraction of the bladder muscles.
• Mixed Incontinence: It is a combination of both stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The person experiences incontinence both during physical exertion and during sudden need to urinate.
• Overflow Incontinence: It is the overflowing of urine due to the bladder not being completely emptied.

These different types play an important role in determining the treatment options of individuals experiencing urinary incontinence.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can occur as a result of a combination of many different factors. The primary causes of urinary incontinence are weakened pelvic floor muscles, nerve damage related to bladder control, or hormonal changes. Some of the most common causes of urinary incontinence in women are:

Major Causes of Urinary Incontinence:

• Weakening of Pelvic Floor Muscles: Pelvic muscles can weaken after childbirth or with aging, making it difficult to hold urine.
• Menopause: Decreased estrogen levels can cause the bladder and urethra tissues to weaken, increasing the risk of urinary incontinence.
• Birth and Pregnancy: The strain on the pelvic muscles during childbirth and the pressure of the expanding uterus on the bladder can cause urinary incontinence.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes, especially during menopause can trigger urinary incontinence.
• Obesity: Excess weight can cause urinary incontinence by putting too much pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.

In addition to these, chronic diseases, bladder muscle problems or some medications can also cause urinary incontinence.

Factors That Cause Urinary Incontinence

There are many different factors that cause urinary incontinence. The combination of these factors can make it harder to control urine and trigger incontinence problems.

Major Factors Causing Urinary Incontinence:

• Aging: As we age, muscles weaken and bladder control becomes more difficult.
• Birth: Pelvic muscles may weaken in women who give birth vaginally.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes during periods such as menopause can weaken the bladder and urethra tissues.
• Chronic Cough: Conditions such as asthma and bronchitis can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and trigger incontinence.
• Obesity: Excess weight can put pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles, making it difficult to control urination.
• Nerve Damage: Nervous system disorders can negatively affect bladder control.

Being aware of these risk factors is important for preventing and treating urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment Methods

Urinary incontinence can be controlled with various treatment methods. Treatment options are determined according to the patient's type of urinary incontinence, severity and general health status. Mild cases of urinary incontinenceWhile lifestyle changes and exercises may be sufficient in some cases, surgical interventions may be required in advanced cases.

Common Treatment Methods for Urinary Incontinence:

1. Kegel Exercises: These exercises, performed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, are one of the first steps in the treatment of urinary incontinence. Regular practice can strengthen the pelvic muscles and increase bladder control.
2. Laser Treatment: Laser treatments, which tighten vaginal tissues and increase bladder support, offer a non-surgical solution.
3. Surgical Methods: Surgical intervention may be required in advanced cases of urinary incontinence. These operations include various surgical methods applied to support the bladder and urethra.
4. Drug Therapy: Medications that control the bladder muscles can be used especially in the treatment of urge incontinence.
5. Physiotherapy: Special physiotherapy sessions that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can be effective in reducing urinary incontinence.

When determining the treatment method, the doctor makes a comprehensive assessment of the patient's general health status and type of urinary incontinence.

Ways to Prevent Urinary Incontinence

There are many methods that can be applied to prevent or relieve urinary incontinence. Urinary control can be achieved especially with lifestyle changes and regular exercise.

Ways to Prevent Urinary Incontinence:

• Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel Exercises): These exercises can reduce the risk of urinary incontinence by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Preventing obesity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence. A balanced diet and regular exercise support the pelvic floor muscles.
• Bladder Training: Emptying the bladder at regular intervals and not going to the toilet frequently can allow the bladder to hold urine for longer periods of time.
• Controlling Fluid Intake: Excessive fluid consumption and avoiding caffeinated beverages can reduce pressure on the bladder.

These methods can be especially effective in the early symptoms of urinary incontinence and can prevent its progression.

Conditions Requiring Surgery

In some cases of urinary incontinence, surgical intervention may be required. Especially when Kegel exercises and other treatment methods do not work, surgical methods can be used. These interventions are usually performed to support the bladder and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Conditions Requiring Surgery and Treatment Methods:

• Sling Surgery: A sling is placed under the urethra to control urinary incontinence.
• Colposuspension: This surgery, performed to support the bladder, ensures that the bladder remains in the correct position.
• Botox Injection: Botox injections can be performed in cases where the bladder muscles are overactive.

In cases requiring surgical intervention, the doctor determines the most appropriate method according to the patient's general health condition and type of urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence and Quality of Life

Urinary incontinence is a condition that negatively affects quality of life. It can have a major impact on a person's social, work and sexual life. Feelings such as shame and anxiety can cause individuals to shy away from social environments.

Social and Psychological Effects:

• Withdrawal from Social Life: Fear of urinary incontinence can cause individuals to shy away from social environments.
• Affecting Sexual Life: Fear of urinary incontinence, especially during sexual intercourse, can negatively affect the sexual life of couples.
• Loss of Self-Confidence: Urinary incontinence can damage a person's self-confidence and lead to psychological problems.

These effects show that urinary incontinence should be treated not only physically but also psychologically.

Laser Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

Laser treatment is a non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence. Laser treatment, which is used to tighten vaginal tissues and strengthen pelvic floor muscles, is especially effective in cases of mild to moderate urinary incontinence.

Benefits of Laser Treatment:

• Fast Recovery: The recovery process after laser treatment is veryis short and the patient can return to normal activities on the same day.
• Painless Treatment: Laser treatment is generally painless and does not require anesthesia.
• No Surgical Intervention: Laser treatment is a low-risk treatment method because it does not require surgery.

Laser treatment can offer aesthetic benefits such as vaginal dryness and vaginal rejuvenation in addition to urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence and Menopause

Menopause is a period when urinary incontinence problems are common. The decrease in estrogen levels with menopause can lead to weakening of vaginal tissues and difficulty in bladder control.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Menopause:

• Decrease in Estrogen Levels: The decrease in estrogen causes the vaginal and urethral tissues to thin, and bladder control becomes difficult.
• Vaginal Dryness: With menopause, vaginal tissues may become dry and lose elasticity, which can trigger urinary incontinence.

Hormonal treatments, pelvic exercises and laser treatments can be used for the treatment of urinary incontinence during menopause.

Candidates for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence treatment can be suitable for women of all ages. For those experiencing mild to moderate urinary incontinence, exercises and lifestyle changes are recommended in the first stage. In advanced cases, surgical interventions may be considered.

Suitable Candidates for Treatment:

• Women with Weak Pelvic Muscles: Women who have pelvic muscle weakness after childbirth or due to aging.
• Those with Mild Urinary Incontinence: Pelvic floor exercises and laser treatments are suitable for this group.
• Postmenopausal Urinary Incontinence: Those who have urinary incontinence due to hormonal changes.

It is important to have a detailed consultation with the doctor to determine treatment options.

Persistence of Urinary Incontinence

The permanence of urinary incontinence treatment depends on the treatment method applied and the general health status of the patient. Methods such as pelvic floor exercises and laser therapy can provide long-term results, while surgical interventions can provide more permanent solutions.

Permanence of Treatment Results:

• Pelvic Exercises: Provides long-term improvement when applied regularly, but the muscles may weaken again.
• Laser Treatment: Its effect can last for several years, but may need to be repeated as the aging process continues.
• Surgical Interventions: Surgical methods are generally more permanent, but lifestyle changes are necessary after treatment.

The permanence of each treatment option depends on the patient's post-treatment care and health habits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is urinary incontinence treatment painful?

Pelvic exercises and laser treatments are generally painless. Surgical interventions are performed under anesthesia.

2. How long does urinary incontinence treatment last?

Exercises and laser treatments may require several sessions. Surgical interventions require a longer recovery period.

3. How long does recovery after laser treatment last?

The recovery period after laser treatment is very short, the patient can usually return to normal activities on the same day.

4. How long does urinary incontinence treatment last?

The permanence varies depending on the treatment method. Surgical interventions may be more permanent, while exercises and laser treatments can be repeated.