Urinary Incontinence

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Accidental leakage of urine is a common complaint, affecting approximately one third of women. The most common causes are stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is leakage of urine during normal daily activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, dancing or simply on movement.

The majority of women are cured simply by performing pelvic floor exercises; this can be combined with electrical stimulation in conjunction with a physiotherapist. For some women these measures are not sufficient to remain dry and so will require a surgical procedure. The commonest procedure performed is a day case with excellent outcome for over 80% of women.

For more information visit: http://www.rcog.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1120

Urge Incontinence

Urge incontinence or overactive bladder is leakage of urine before being able to reach the toilet or needing to hurry to the toilet to empty your bladder. Other complaints associated are the need to empty your bladder many times a day and having to get up several times a night to go. Aggravating factors include consuming caffeine products and cigarette smoking.

As with stress incontinence most women can usually be cured and at worst can be managed so that it does not to interfere with their quality of life. The mainstay of treatment is retraining of the bladder which can be explained by your doctor, failing this drug treatments can be prescribed, a new treatment is the injection of botulinum toxin into the bladder. In a very small group of patients surgery may be required, but tends to be avoided if possible.

For more information contact:
Contience Foundation