Stress urinary incontinence is easily identified when involuntary loss of urine occurs when making some effort such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or lifting heavy objects, for example.
This usually happens when the pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter are weak, and is therefore more common in the elderly. However, problems in the spinal column or brain that can alter the signals sent to the muscles can also be the cause of this type of incontinence.
Often, people with this problem end up isolating themselves and avoiding social interactions as they are afraid of smelling like urine. However, there are some forms of treatment that help reduce the frequency of incontinence episodes and can even stop involuntary loss of urine.
What can cause incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when there is a weakening of the sphincter or the muscles that hold the bladder and this can have some causes such as:
- Multiple births: women who have gone through labor several times may have more dilated and injured pelvic muscles, making it difficult for the sphincter to contain urine in the bladder;
- Obesity: excess weight causes more pressure on the bladder, making it easier for urine to come out;
- Prostate surgery: Men who have had their prostate removed are at greater risk of experiencing stress incontinence because during surgery, small injuries can occur to the sphincter or sphincter nerves, reducing its ability to close and hold urine.
Furthermore, people with illnesses that can cause frequent coughing or sneezing also have an increased risk of having incontinence, especially as they age, as their muscles weaken and are no longer able to compensate for the pressure on the bladder. The same happens in the case of high-impact sports such as running or jumping rope, for example.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence can be made by a general practitioner or urologist by evaluating the symptoms. However, some tests such as bladder ultrasound can also be carried out to assess the amount of urine when the episode of urine loss occurs, making it easier to choose a form of treatment.
How the treatment is carried out
There is no specific treatment for stress urinary incontinence, and the doctor can choose several forms of treatment, such as:
- Kegel Exercises: can be done daily to strengthen the pelvic floor, reducing the frequency of incontinence episodes. See how to do this type of exercise;
- Decrease the amount of water ingested: must be calculated with the doctor to avoid excessive urine formation, but without causing dehydration of the body;
- Do bladder training: consists of scheduling times to go to the bathroom in order to get your bladder used to emptying at the same time, avoiding involuntary leaks.
Additionally, making some changes to your diet can also help with incontinence. Watch a video from our nutritionist about food in these cases:
Although there are no medications approved specifically for incontinence, some doctors may recommend the use of antidepressants, such as Duloxetine, which reduce stress and anxiety by reducing contraction of the abdominal muscles and relieving pressure on the bladder.
Another option for cases that do not improve with any of the techniques is to have incontinence surgery in which the doctor repairs and strengthens the pelvic muscles. Find out more about this type of surgery and when to do it.
