What is the best treatment for urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a common condition prevalent in society but is often suppressed or taken lightly as part of the aging process. However, it can affect any age group causing an embarrassing issue; hence, early diagnosis and treatment for urinary incontinence is recommended.
Incontinence can be caused by voiding issues or storage issues in the bladder. In a condition called as overactive bladder, the patient has severe urgency and leaks even before reaching the toilet. In voiding disorders the bladder is unable to empty and the bladder leaks after becoming over distended. Another form is called as stress urinary incontinence where urine leaks on coughing or sneezing.
What is urinary incontinence?
When the bladder loses its ability to hold the urine resulting in unintentional release or leaking of the urine, the condition is called urinary incontinence. The brain sends signals to the bladder when it is full, to release urine. The sphincter opens up and makes way for the urine to flow out of the bladder to the urethra and then finally out of the body.
Any fault in this complex coordinated system can lead to urinary incontinence. Gladly, there are reliable treatments for urinary incontinence that can reverse and effectively treat the condition.
- Medications: The doctors would try to treat urinary incontinence with medication that affects muscle function. The medications basically relax the bladder muscles reducing the urgency
- Hormone therapy: Urinary incontinence caused post-menopause can be due to the lack of estrogen in the body. Local oestrogen creams help in preventing dryness and irritation around the urethra.
- Surgery: Surgery for urinary incontinence is a proven and long-lasting treatment. Surgery ranges from minimally invasive insertion of trans vaginal tapes to complex robotic procedures. Some common surgical procedures to treat incontinence include:
- Neuromodulation devices: Special pacemakers are implanted in the body to stimulate the nerves of the bladder and offer better control.
- Sling procedure: A sling is introduced to the body to support the urethra channel.
- Artificial urethral sphincter: A surgical procedure to treat incontinence in men. An artificial urethral sphincter is placed to prevent involuntary urine leakage.
Robotic Sacro-Colpopexy: Robotic surgery is used in conditions where the vaginal vault has prolapsed following a hysterectomy. It involves pulling up the vaginal vault using a mesh and fixing it to the sacral bone preventing it from coming down.
Certain lifestyle changes can also help prevent urinary incontinence. Doctors recommend performing exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles as well as taking care of your urinary habits and hygiene.
Urinary incontinence is primarily an age-related condition, but it does affect people of different ages and genders. With a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment the leaks can stop. Meet with the specialists early to treat a simple clinical but huge social issue.