Incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine. This can range from an occasional leakage of urine to a complete inability to hold any urine. If you suffer from urinary incontinence or the involuntary loss of female bladder control or urinary incontinence you are not alone. This common problem affects more then 20 million men and women, although it is more common among the elderly and female bladder control is more prevalent than male bladder control.
Causes of incontinence included taking certain medications, being pregnant and the after-effects of childbirth, a drop in hormones due to aging and menopause, diabetes, obesity, high-impact exercise, bladder cancer and spinal injuries. No matter the cause of your bladder control problem, treatment is available. The urinary incontinence treatment program at DeKalb Medical is designed to care for your special needs using a non-surgical approach to treat your incontinence. These techniques will help you regain control of your life and return to the activities you enjoy most.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress incontinence - is the involuntary leakage of small amounts of urine with coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or exercise, caused by weak pelvic floor muscles.
- Urge incontinence - involves a strong, sudden need to urinate followed by instant bladder contraction and involuntary loss of urine. You don't have enough time between when you recognize the need to urinate and when you actually do urinate.
- Mixed incontinence - is the combination of stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence - occurs when the amount of urine exceeds the capacity of the bladder. Symptoms include a markedly reduced urinary stream, incomplete or unsuccessful voiding and frequent or even continuous urinary dribbling.
- Reflex incontinence - is the unexpected leakage of urine, often caused by openings or leaks in the bladder or urethra.
- Functional incontinence - is usually the result of circumstantial or environmental causes, such as surgery or mobility limitations.
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Exercises to strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor can help manage urinary incontinence and improve female bladder control. DeKalb Medical offers pelvic floor therapy to help women with female bladder control problems. Pelvic floor exercises also are recommended to help women with urinary incontinence. |