Urinary incontinence is the general term for a range of issues that affect bladder control. There are several types of urinary incontinence, and distinguishing among them can be tricky. The correct treatment depends on knowing which form you have. Stress and urge incontinence, for example, are common, but what are the differences between them, and how are they treated?
If you live in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, or South Florida areas and are dealing with the symptoms of urinary incontinence or similar issues, Drs. Craig Herman and Steven Kester and the skilled medical staff at the Urology Center of Florida can help.
Your bladder is in the lower abdomen and holds urine until it is ready to empty. This organ is made up of smooth muscles that make voiding an easy process. If you’re incontinent, something is causing the process to function abnormally, leading to urine leaking or dribbling or the bladder not fully emptying.
Incontinence can be the result of various things, some of which differ between men and women. While age can be a contributing factor, so can a sedentary lifestyle, birth defects, diabetes, and family history.
In men, incontinence is often the result of constipation, obesity, an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, urinary tract obstructions, weakened pelvic floor or bladder muscles, problems with sphincter strength, nerve damage, or neurological problems.
In women, common causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), constipation, obesity, pregnancy, post-pregnancy trauma to the pelvic floor, menopause, chronic coughing, and impaired cognition.
While urge and stress incontinence both lead to bladder control issues, they do so in different ways.
Stress incontinence is caused by exerting pressure on the bladder through activities like laughing, coughing, jumping, or sneezing, which leads to small amounts of urine leaking. In men, most stress incontinence is caused by prostate issues. Women frequently have it as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause.
This form of incontinence causes an uncontrollable need to void that you can’t prevent. This leads to leaking urine when trying to get to a toilet, often requiring numerous trips to the bathroom. It’s often due to an overactive bladder and can happen as a result of the same issues as stress incontinence, as well as neurological disorders, certain medications, and UTIs.
Some options can manage both types of incontinence. Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, lifestyle changes, and bladder retraining are examples. Some treatments specifically designed for stress incontinence include condom catheters, surgical mesh slings, or artificial sphincters. Neuromodulation — using mild electrical stimulation on the nerves that control the bladder — or Botox® injections are used to treat urge incontinence.
Millions of people struggle with urinary incontinence. If you’re one of them, make an appointment today with Urology Center of Florida. Call or message us.
