It is a fact that the female reproductive system is much more complex to understand than the male body. Menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause are the best examples to mention, but they can also bring other consequences, such as urinary incontinence, for example, which is twice as common in women as in men.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Because it is considered taboo in society in general, many myths have arisen around urinary incontinence. It is characterized by involuntary loss of urine, which can occur at different levels, depending on the individual. In some cases, this can happen due to a simple cough and in others, it happens without the person even noticing. Although it can occur at any age, urinary incontinence is much more common in the elderly, a stage in life when muscles are already weaker.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

To talk about the causes of this problem, we first need to discuss how this part of our urinary system works. The organs responsible for producing urine are the kidneys, which send this liquid directly to the bladder, where it is stored.

The bladder has a muscle called the urinary sphincter which serves precisely to keep the urine inside the organ until we voluntarily release it. The bladder notifies our brain when it is too full, which is when we feel the urge to go to the bathroom, making this bladder muscle relax and release the urine stored there.

We mention this to understand that urinary incontinence is nothing more than a problem involving the urinary sphincter. Knowing that women are most affected by this problem, we can list the main causes:

  • Vaginal Infections
  • Intestinal Constipation
  • Side Effects of Medications
  • Surgeries
  • Diseases that affect the muscles or nerves

Each of these causes can lead to a different type of the problem we are analyzing, which we will see below.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are currently 5 known types of urinary incontinence. They are:

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence
  • Urge Urinary Incontinence
  • Overflow Urinary Incontinence
  • Functional Urinary Incontinence
  • Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Stress Urinary Incontinence

This happens exactly when there is a muscular problem, either in the bladder or even the pelvis. In these cases, urine loss may occur when sneezing or coughing, for example.

Urge Urinary Incontinence

This is a desire to urinate so strong that the person cannot wait to get to a bathroom. Unlike what usually happens when someone feels the need and this urge gradually becomes more intense over time, here this stronger urge appears suddenly, making it impossible for any quick reaction.

Overflow Urinary Incontinence

This occurs when the bladder can no longer hold so much liquid and literally overflows. It happens a lot to pregnant women, as the belly often presses on the bladder, causing it to overflow more easily.

Functional Urinary Incontinence

This happens when a person knows they need to urinate, but is unable to because of a disease or complication that prevents them from doing it by themselves.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence

This is the combination of two or more types of incontinence mentioned here.

Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

There are some treatments for urinary incontinence that can either reduce or even eliminate the problems it brings. Of course, it is necessary to take into account the shame that many people feel in admitting they have this problem, but this is the first step to getting treatment. The two main types of treatment are:

  • Physical Therapy
  • Surgery

Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

One of the most effective types of treatment is physical therapy for urinary incontinence. With a variety of exercises and medical follow-up, the person suffering from this problem will improve gradually as their muscles become stronger. This alternative usually produces great results, especially for younger people.

Surgery

In more severe cases, it is necessary to undergo a surgical procedure, usually on the bladder, so that urinary incontinence can be cured. Although it scares many people, it is not a very complex surgery and can help when there are no other alternatives.

Consequences of Urinary Incontinence

A lot is said about the physical consequences that urinary incontinence can bring, but the psychological state of the person suffering from this problem is hardly ever evaluated. It is very common for people to be afraid to talk about the problem and this may end up affecting their personal lives, causing the person to avoid leaving the house or even meeting other people. Many end up needing a psychologist after going through a problem such as this.

Several diseases affect women much more than men and many of them are due to the drastic changes that occur in a woman’s body. Despite everything, it is necessary to understand that even if some changes bring consequences such as urinary incontinence, there are treatments and ways to prevent this from interfering with someone’s life.

As with any type of disease, it is most recommended that the person consult a specialist for treatment and not take any medication on their own, as this can end up worsening the clinical condition or even causing more serious consequences.

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