What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence involves the accidental leakage of urine. There are several types of incontinence, including:

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence happens when you unintentionally leak urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Leaks may also occur during exercise, including running or walking.

Urge incontinence

This type involves a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate that causes an involuntary loss of urine. You may also need to urinate more frequently, including throughout the night.

You may also have mixed incontinence, which involves symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a symptom rather than a disease in and of itself. Several factors, including lifestyle habits and underlying medical conditions, may cause incontinence.

Short-term causes of incontinence include:

• Medicines that act as diuretics
• Urinary tract infections
• Caffeinated drinks

Incontinence that’s caused by short-term factors is easy to resolve by treating or eliminating the underlying cause.

On the other hand, long-term causes may involve problems with the muscles and nerves that control the flow of urine. Certain life events can weaken the pelvic muscles or cause nerve damage, including:

• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Menopause
• Hysterectomy

As many as 4 out of 10 women experience urinary incontinence during pregnancy. This is because the growing baby puts pressure on your bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. Labor and childbirth can also cause damage to the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, especially during vaginal delivery.

How do you diagnose and treat urinary incontinence?

First, your provider at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates performs a physical and pelvic exam, and reviews your symptoms and medical history. It’s helpful to tell your provider exactly what conditions trigger your urine leakage so they can recommend the best treatment.

To determine the underlying cause of your incontinence, the team at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates may take an in-office urodynamic test. This test involves filling your bladder through a catheter to evaluate its function.

Then, they develop a personalized treatment plan based on your particular type of incontinence. This may involve lifestyle changes, such as drinking less caffeine or performing pelvic-strengthening exercises, such as Kegels, at home. Severe cases of urinary incontinence may require surgery.

To learn how you can overcome urinary incontinence, call Greensboro OB-GYN Associates or book an appointment online today.