Stress incontinence

Incontinence - stress

Treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are and how much they interfere with your everyday life.

The doctor may ask that you stop smoking (if you smoke) and avoid caffeinated beverages (such as soda) and alcohol. You may be asked to keep a urinary diary, recording how many times you urinate during the day and night, and how often urinary leaking occurs.

There are four major categories of treatment for stress incontinence:

• Behavioral changes
• Medication
• Pelvic floor muscle training
• Surgery

BEHAVIORAL CHANGE

Examples of behavior changes include:

• Decreasing any excessive fluid intake (you should not decrease your fluid intake if you drink normal amounts of fluid)
• Urinating more frequently to decrease the amount of urine that leaks
• Changing physical activities to avoid jumping or running movements, which can cause more urine leakage
• Regulating bowel movements with dietary fiber or laxatives to avoid constipation (which can worsen incontinence)
• Quitting smoking to reduce coughing and bladder irritation (and your risk of bladder cancer)
• Avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which can overstimulate the bladder
• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Avoiding food and drinks that irritate the bladder, such as spicy foods, carbonated beverages, and citrus
• Keeping blood sugar under control if you have diabetes

PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE TRAINING

Pelvic muscle training exercises (called Kegel exercises) may help control urine leakage. These exercises improve the strength and function of the urethral sphincter.

Some women may use a device called a vaginal cone along with pelvic exercises. The cone is placed into the vagina, and the woman tries to contract the pelvic floor muscles in an effort to hold it in place. The device may be worn for up to 15 minutes. This procedure should be done two times a day. Within 4 - 6 weeks, most women have some improvement in their symptoms.

Biofeedback and electrical stimulation may be helpful for those who have trouble doing pelvic muscle training exercises. These two methods can help you identify the correct muscle group to work. Biofeedback is a method that helps you learn how to control certain involuntary body responses.