Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that negatively affects quality of life. Women are more at risk with pregnancy and menopause, but men and other age groups can also be affected. Urinary incontinence can lead to social, psychological and physical difficulties. With the right diagnosis and treatment methods, urinary incontinence can be controlled.

What are the Causes of Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be caused in many different ways. Especially with advancing age, the functions of the muscles that provide urine evacuation may decrease. It can also be caused by genetics. The following causes can lead to urinary incontinence.

• Obesity
• Urinary tract infection,
• Kidney stone
• Cystitis,
• Being overweight,
• Smoking
• Menopause
• Constipation
• Some medications can also cause urinary incontinence.

In case of weakness of the pelvic muscles, urinary incontinence can also be seen due to coughing, sneezing, laughing. Overactive bladder muscles, physical or mental disabilities can also cause this condition.

Urinary Incontinence in Adults

Urinary incontinence in adults is a condition that negatively affects quality of life and brings social and psychological problems. Weak pelvic muscles in adults can cause urinary incontinence when abdominal pressure increases, when coughing and sneezing, when exercising. Problems such as bladder infections suddenly cause urinary sensation and the person becomes incontinent.

This problem can occur when the bladder is full but cannot empty. Enlarged prostate, stones in the bladder, tumors in these areas can cause urinary incontinence in adults.

Urinary Incontinence in Women

Urinary incontinence in women most commonly occurs during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, hormonal changes and weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. It is usually a treatable condition. It occurs in every woman for different reasons. It is often uncomfortable and can be severe enough to limit daily life.

A treatment method can be planned to strengthen the pelvic muscles. Kegel exercises aim to control the muscles related to urination and bladder. In some people, it may occur with medication and hormones. In the problem caused by overworked muscles, drug treatment is aimed at reducing this muscle activity.

Urinary Incontinence Symptoms

Symptoms of urinary incontinence occur with sudden and uncontrolled urination as a result of involuntary urinary incontinence. Since bladder control is weak in this disorder, the bladder fills faster and the need to go to the toilet more often occurs. Some warning signs may occur before urinary incontinence. There may be a sudden and intense urinary sensation, a shortening of urinary retention time, slight pressure and discomfort in the abdomen.

Who Can Have Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be seen at any age and in all genders. In women, especially in cases such as pregnancy, menopause and giving birth, this discomfort may be more common. Again, as the muscles and nerves weaken in older people, the bladder volume may also decrease and the ability to hold urine may decrease. This condition is more common in women who experience hormonal changes during menopause. It is also a common problem in men with problems such as prostate enlargement. Problems related to the nervous system such as Parkinson's, MS, stroke can also have an effect on urinary control.

How is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed?

Urinary incontinence can be diagnosed after getting detailed information about the patient's symptoms. Details such as the duration and frequency of these symptoms are requested. Information such as the patient's fluid consumption, bladder habits and the amount of urine is important here. The doctor can evaluate the pelvic area and examine the strength of the pelvic floor muscles by vaginal or rectal examination.

The urine may be analyzed to determine if there is infection, blood or other abnormalities. The patient may be asked to keep a urine book. In this book, the patient is asked to record information such as frequency of urination, amount of urine, incidents of incontinence. If needed, further tests can be performed.

How is Urinary Incontinence Treated?

Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the person's symptoms and the underlying cause. Some forms of treatment are listed below.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises (Kegel Exercises): These exercises involve techniques to correctly tighten and relax the pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence. It is recommended to be done under the guidance of a physiotherapist or specialist.
Behavioral Therapy: Bladder training and bladder emptying techniques are part of the behavioral therapy approach. This treatment method is used to improve bladder control and reduce the risk of urinary incontinence. It includes strategies such as prolonging urine retention times, regulating toilet habits and recommendations on fluid consumption.
Medication Therapy: In some cases, medications can be used to treat urinary incontinence. For example, in the case of urge incontinence, anticholinergic drugs can be used to control overactivity of the bladder muscles.
Surgical Intervention: If urinary incontinence is severe or does not respond to other treatment methods, surgical intervention may be considered. Surgical options include correcting bladder prolapse, urethral compression or other structural problems. It is preferred as a last option.