Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder and can be so embarrassing that it interferes with living a normal, full life. It is a condition that becomes more common as people age and affects as many as one in three Americans, 60 or older. Incontinence is at least twice as common among women as men.

Incontinence of urine or stool affects 25 million people in the United States. Besides severely restricting the people's quality of life, incontinence impacts in other ways: The annual cost to people affected with incontinence and to society, exceeds 10 billion dollars. There are several different types of incontinence: stress, urge, overflow, and functional.

The most common kind of urinary incontinence in women is stress incontinence, in which urine leaks during lifting, exercise, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Weak pelvic muscles that may have been stretched or torn during childbearing often cause this. Therefore, as a first line of therapy, conservative methods of treatment, such as Kegel exercises, are highly recommended. It is non-surgical and very effective when done correctly and for at least three-six months. To identify the right muscles for Kegel exercises, you may find that it helps to pretend you are stopping a flow of urine. Tighten these muscles and hold the contraction for 4 seconds. Do this 10 to 20 times and allow the muscles to relax completely between contractions. These sets of contractions should be performed 10 times per day. You can do Kegel exercises anywhere: while sitting at a desk, waiting for a bus, washing dishes, driving a car, waiting in line, or watching television

Other modalities of treatment are available:

• Medicine that tightens the urethral muscle, stimulates the bladder to empty, relaxes an irritable bladder, or treats infection.
• Bladder training, which teaches you to empty the bladder on schedule rather than waiting until you feel the urge.
• A pessary, which is similar to the outer ring of a diaphragm. This is inserted up around a woman's cervix, where it gives support to the pelvic muscles and helps prevent stress incontinence. Your health care provider may advise a pessary to support lax pelvic muscles if this is contributing to the incontinence.
• Incontinence pads, available in all sizes and degrees of absorbency, to decrease chances of accidents.
• Catheters inserted into the bladder so that it can be mechanically drained on schedule. This is usually done only as a last resort.
• Surgery options evolved tremendously along with technological advances. While the traditional surgery with a longer recovery time is still an option, others modern techniques were developed that can be performed on an outpatient basis, same day surgery with less pain and discomfort and with equally good results.

Remember: Incontinence is common! Incontinence of urine or stool affects 25 million people in the United States. There is no reason to suffer in silence. Incontinence is treatable!

Call 860-409-1930 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Marcovici!!!