Urinary incontinece

WHAT IS URINARY INCONTINENCE?

Loss of control over urinary sphincters resulting in the involuntary passage of urine. People who suffer from this condition are faced with a social, psychological and social problem that limits their activities within the work-place and their family/personal sphere.

What are the causes of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence depends on the correct functioning of the bladder, the urethra, the sphincters and the corresponding nervous systems. Alterations in any one of these organs may lead to incontinence.

Are there different types of incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be classified as follows:

• Stress incontinence.
• Urge incontinence.
• Nocturnal incontinence.
• Old-age incontinence.

What is stress incontinence?

It is a typical urine leakage linked to abdominal effort such as coughing, laughing, a simple change of posture, and sometimes it may also occur during sexual intercourse. It is produced as a consequence of the movement of the pelvic muscles. The perinea muscles lose their strength of contraction and the bladder begins to descend due to the lack of muscular performance.
It is frequent among multiparous women or women who have experienced complications during child birth.

What do we call urge incontinence?

It takes place when the person feels a strong and uncontrollable urge to urinate that inevitably leads to urine leakages. This kind of anomaly is caused by an involuntary bladder contraction that may be caused by different infections and irritations of the urinary apparatus.

What is noctural incontinence (eneuresis)?

It is a urine leakage that occurs during sleep. It is more frequent among children. It may have various causes: delayed urine control learning process, psychological problems or bladder ailments.

What is urinary incontinence in elderly people?

Among elderly people appear some illnesses that can produce urinary incontinence and which origin could be neurological or urological.

What to do with urinary incontinence?

The solution to urinary incontinence takes various forms and depends on the cause / illness which causes it. A thorough diagnosis is crucial for deciding which is the best treatment option.

How is urinary incontinence treated?

The following treatments are the ones that are currently available:

• Medications and gymnastic round the perineal muscles: to optimise the bladder activity.
• Electro stimulation of the perineal muscles: : It consists of stimulating the perineal muscles; it is an innocuous and painless method that can be followed from home.
• Surgery: There are simple operations, of low risk and an overall 80% success rate. New techniques are being developed to reduce post-operative in-clinic stays, to 24 – 48 hours.
• Sphincter prosthesis: These are a surgically-applied devices inserted in the anatomical sphincter of the bladder which allows voluntary open/close movements of the sphincter.
• Vaginal prosthesis: they are also called pessaries which are advised for elderly women and/ or those with fragile health and/or those who cannot undergo surgery.

Women’s urinary incontinence has a new and easy solution. This pathology, which can often lead to hygiene, social and psychic problems, can be resolved with a simple transvaginal operation, named “In Fast”. This new technique has low associated risks and an 80 % of success rate. It also has a shorter post-operation recovery period than traditional surgery.

What is the best advice for people that suffer of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is often suffered in silence. It is not advisable ignore small urine leakages, they may become greater and more abundant with time, and they will not disappear if left untreated. Consult your urologist before the problem gets bigger and take the first step towards a solution. The diagnosis testing is easy and painless and the best news is that incontinence has a cure nowadays.