It can be a source of shame, embarrassment and fear. Because what if a sneeze, burst of laughter or exertion causes … that’s right. Urinary incontinence, called incontinence – because this is the problem we are talking about, affects many women. There are more of them than you might think. The sudden feeling of wet underwear is certainly not pleasant, but cheers up – there are ways to do it!
Such symptoms are not easy to accept for every woman. After all, urinary incontinence is mainly associated with postmenopausal women, which, however, is wrong thinking. Although the problem most often affects women over forty, it also affects thirty-year-olds more and more often. Already 1/3 of women over XNUMX struggle with urinary incontinence…
The most common causes of urinary incontinence. Treatment methods
Many young women do not admit to this embarrassing ailment, and older ladies consider it a normal result of old age. Therefore, although statistics say that 12% of women aged 30 to 39 suffer from urinary incontinence, doctors alert that there may be much more of them.
The most common causes of incontinence include:
- Urogenital infections – this is the reason that is the easiest to overcome. Urinary incontinence is often one of the first symptoms of this type of disease. The need to visit the toilet often is associated with the invasion of bacteria that cause pain or stinging when urinating, and the feeling of needing to pee often, although in effect only a few drops, is characteristic. Sometimes it is accompanied by a dull pain in the lower abdomen, fever or subfebrile condition. Treatment: a treatment with antibiotics for a few days or weeks is enough, but you must not stop taking the medicines yourself, even if the symptoms disappear. This is how bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic!
- Births – usually this reason applies to young women. Then, despite the increased level of hormones, the tension of the pelvic floor muscles decreases. They stretch or become damaged as a result of childbirth. Although don’t worry – usually doctors know how to lead the delivery so that the baby’s head does not lead to damage to the perineum. However, if it is quite large, the baby is incorrectly positioned, or forceps delivery is required, even the best gynecologist can damage the muscles. Treatment: do not underestimate this problem! Although after childbirth, young mothers are busy taking care of the newborn and treat urinary incontinence as a natural consequence of childbirth, it is necessary to report it to the doctor. Treatment should be started as soon as possible.
- Hormonal changes – incontinence mainly affects post-menopausal women. During the period when the level of estrogens decreases, the elasticity of the pelvic floor muscles and the urogenital diaphragm also decreases. It is these muscles that are responsible for the correct position of the genitals, and their work is most important during the reproductive period. Flabby muscles after menopause no longer hold the internal structure of organs as stable. Treatment: hormone replacement therapy or estrogen ointments, intended for use in the perineal area. Sometimes surgery is also used, involving the implantation of a special tape into the vagina, as the most effective way to overcome the problem.