Did you know over 25 million women in America experience the symptoms of chronic or temporary urinary incontinence (UI)?
Incontinence refers to involuntary urine loss. The issues with the urethra (the tube that removes urine from the body), pelvic floor muscles, bladder, or nerves cause female incontinence.
Although UI can happen at any age, it is more prevalent in women over 50. Depending on the underlying medical issue, urinary incontinence can be transient. It is often uncomfortable because of small urine leaks, resulting in severe and persistent wetting.
Females with UI may experience different symptoms depending on the severity of their condition. These may include:
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
- Embarrassing urine leakage.
- Having to use the restroom quickly and risk leaking urine if you don’t.
- Persistent dampness without any signs of urine leakage.
- Urinary leakage after laughing, sneezing, or coughing.
- Urinary leakage that started or persisted after surgery.
- Urination while moving or exercising.
- Urine leakage that interferes with the activity.
Urinary incontinence symptoms can resemble other illnesses or health issues. That is why you always need to seek a diagnosis from your doctor.
Let’s take a closer look at UI, its types, and ways you can manage the condition if you’re experiencing the symptoms.
The 3 Types Of Female Incontinence
Urge Incontinence
Losing control over the bladder is a condition known as urgency incontinence. It is linked to a strong urge or need to urinate. Women in this condition have trouble holding their bladder’s urine long enough to get to the bathroom.
Urgency incontinence is a sign of overactive bladder syndrome and is connected to involuntary spasms or incontinence. Overactive bladder syndrome increases the frequency of urine, sometimes at night.
Acute, short-term, severe urgency incontinence can have several root causes, such as bladder infection or inflammation. The root cause of persistent or chronic symptoms is often unknown.
Overflow Incontinence
Another common type of UI is overflow incontinence which is typically an indication of neurological disorders or bladder issues. The bladder of people with overflow incontinence doesn’t drain during urination. It builds up in the bladder over time and overflows, resulting in constant leakage.
It is a severe disorder that is difficult to control only with physical therapy. The use of quality intermittent catheters can help empty the bladder.
Stress Incontinence
The most typical incontinence type in females is stress incontinence, which can worsen with age. It happens when abdominal pressure increases by sneezing, coughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising and weakens the pelvic floor. This type of incontinence then results in urine leakage.
The urethra muscles might weaken by aging, childbearing, or fat, allowing urine to escape.
Female Incontinence Management Options
Because female incontinence is so common, many women assume they will have to learn to deal with it. However, you have alternatives for managing and treating your urine incontinence.
Depending on the sort of female incontinence you are experiencing, consult with your doctor and discuss the choices that might be best for you. They’ll probably have a specific suggestion depending on your unique situation. There are different UI management and treatment options for women.
Incontinence Treatment Options for Women May Include:
- Botox injections into the urinary bladder muscle
- Electrical stimulation
- Incontinence supplies like female bladder control pads, catheters, and adult diapers
- Intermittent catheterization
- Lifestyle and dietary changes
- Medications (Anti-cholinergic medications and vaginal estrogen)
- Pelvic floor workouts and exercises, including Kegels
- Peripheral nerve stimulation
- Pessary or vaginal insert
- Self-directed bladder re-training therapy
- Surgery
As mentioned above, consultation with a healthcare professional is crucial for people experiencing urine incontinence. In most cases, doctors direct patients to a urologist or urogynecologist- a medical professional specializing in urinary tract conditions.
These professionals use a comprehensive physical examination focusing on the reproductive organs, urinary and nervous systems, and urine samples to diagnose urinary incontinence.
The specialists then determine the specific treatments based on the following:
- Patient’s age, medical history, and health
- Patient’s preference and opinion
- Tolerance of therapies, medications, and procedures
- UI type patient has
Summary
Many women wear diapers, pads, or other types of protection to prevent urine leakage. Alternately, women can wear specially created absorbent undergarments that resemble regular underwear below regular clothing. Plus, using urinary catheters from reputed companies such as Active Life Medical Products is a good and safe way to deal with UI.
How Active Life Medical Products Can Help With Catheter Supplies
You need a trusted catheter supplier when you require catheter supplies. Active Life Medical Products makes ordering the entire catheter supply process easy. Our Product Specialists can help you get your prescribed catheter covered through most insurances. Everything will be delivered directly to your front door.
Call Active Life Medical Products at (800) 319-2336 to place your order.
