Leaky bladder? How to get help
Urinary incontinence is more common as you age, but treatments are available.
If you’ve ever leaked urine when you cough or laugh, that’s urinary incontinence (UI), a loss of bladder control. It affects women twice as often as men and can present as a drip or be severe enough that you don’t make it to the bathroom in time. The condition becomes more common as you age and may be caused by childbirth, menopause, being overweight, prostate problems, or chronic conditions such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis. In fact, 4 in 10 women over 65 have UI.
The good news: There are many effective ways to treat this condition. “So many patients feel embarrassed and hopeless,” says Karyn Eilber, M.D., a urologist and associate professor of urology and ob-gyn at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. “They are thrilled to find out there are solutions other than just wearing pads and diapers.”
If you’re experiencing urinary incontinence, don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care provider (PCP). They can come up with the best treatment plan for you and rule out any other potential medical causes. Here’s what to know about the most common types of UI and treatments:
Common types of UI
Stress incontinence is caused by anything that activates the pelvic floor muscles, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. If the muscles are weak, you may leak urine.
Urge incontinence is a strong and sudden need to urinate. Sometimes urine leaks out before you can get to a bathroom.
It’s also possible to have both types of incontinence, called “mixed incontinence.”
Treatments
Depending on the cause of your incontinence, treatments may include:
Behavioral modifications These include avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks.
Bladder training With this approach, you go to the bathroom at set times and gradually add about 15 minutes between bathroom visits. Over time, this trains your bladder to hold more urine before you get the urge to go again.
Kegels These are exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles — the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, large intestine, and rectum.
Vaginal pessary A pessary is a small silicone device inserted into the vagina that supports the pelvic floor muscles and can help reduce stress incontinence.
Surgery In some cases, surgical procedures designed to support the bladder can improve incontinence.
