Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of incontinence the person has, that is, whether it is urgency, stress or a combination of these 2 types.
However, in most cases, treatment may involve the use of pelvic muscle exercises, physical therapy, medication or even surgery, especially in more serious cases.
Ideally, treatment for urinary incontinence is recommended by a urologist, who will assess the type of incontinence and the intensity of symptoms, indicating the best forms of treatment.
How the treatment is carried out
The most commonly used treatments for urinary incontinence are:
1. Kegel Exercises
These are specific exercises for the pelvic floor muscles, in which you must contract the muscles for 10 seconds and then relax them for another 15 seconds, repeating them about 10 times, 3 times a day.
Although it is possible to do the exercises at home, it may be useful to consult a physiotherapist who can personally instruct you on how to perform these exercises correctly to obtain the best results. After learning how to contract the right muscles, you can perform the exercises at home daily, in a calm and peaceful way.
2. Medicines
There are different types of medicines that may be recommended by the doctor for the treatment of urinary incontinence, being used to relax the bladder, increase bladder muscle tone or strengthen the sphincter.
The use of medication is normally indicated when kegel exercises were not sufficient to control urine loss and should only be used with medical advice. Check out the main remedies recommended for each type of urinary incontinence.
3. Physiotherapy
Electrical stimulation is another way to treat urine loss, which consists of stimulating the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles with small electrical impulses.
4. Food
Knowing what to eat can also be helpful in preventing involuntary urine loss. Some recommendations are:
- Regulate the intestine by eating foods rich in fiber to avoid constipation and thus reduce pressure on the abdomen, reducing episodes of incontinence;
- Avoid drinking alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, especially coffee, as these drinks greatly stimulate the bladder;
- Lose weight through a healthy diet and physical exercise, except for stress urinary incontinence;
- Avoid consuming foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as spicy, carbonated drinks, fruits and citrus juices.
See more tips in the video below:
5. Surgery
Surgery is generally recommended in the most serious cases, where it is not possible to correct urine loss with other forms of treatment. There are different types of surgery, however, the main objective is always to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Find out how the surgery is performed, recovery and the necessary care.
