Urinary incontinence happens when you lose bladder control or you leak urine involuntarily. It mostly affects women, especially older women. The more times a woman has given birth, the more her risk of urinary incontinence goes up. Smoking is also a risk factor. Most of these women have stress incontinence, where you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise. Another type is urge incontinence, when you may have to "go" suddenly and can't hold the urine in. Some women have both types. Some people may experience temporary incontinence. Signs and Symptoms
What Causes It?
What to Expect at Your Doctor's OfficeYour doctor will give you a physical examination and ask questions about:
You may be asked to cough vigorously to see if it causes urine loss. This is a sign of stress incontinence. Your doctor may suggest urine tests to find:
Your doctor may order a pelvic ultrasound to look at your bladder, kidneys, and urethra. Treatment OptionsTreatment can help more than 80% of people with urinary incontinence. Exercise and behavioral therapies are most successful. But there are also several drugs available to help with urge incontinence, including:
Options for urge incontinence that hasn't responded to medication include:
Surgery may help women with stress incontinence and men with an enlarged prostate. Other options include:
Recent studies suggest that midurethral slings are the most commonly performed surgical treatments for stress incontinence. Complementary and Alternative TherapiesCommon alternative therapies include:
Other alternative therapies include:
Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using. Nutrition and Supplements
One study suggested that chondroitin sulfate helped with symptoms of urge incontinence and overactive bladder, as well as the medication Detrol. More studies are needed to know whether it really works. Avoid chondroitin sulfate if you are allergic to shellfish or have asthma. Chondroitin sulfate can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix). Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take chondroitin sulfate. Men with prostate cancer should ask their doctor before taking chondroitin. HerbsHerbs are a way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, or teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. (5 g) herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaves or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. Speak to your doctor about any herbal therapies you are considering. One laboratory study suggested that St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has the potential to help with urinary incontinence. But this use has not been tested in humans. St. John's wort can interfere with many medications. Check with your doctor before taking St. John's wort if you are taking prescription medications, including birth control pills. St. John's wort can affect mood, so people with a history of psychiatric illness should ask their doctors before taking it. DO NOT take St. John's wort if you are trying to become pregnant, or if you have a history of liver disease. HomeopathyThe following are some of the most common remedies used for urinary incontinence. Usually, the dose is 3 to 5 pellets of a 12X - 30C remedy every 1 to 4 hours until symptoms improve.
AcupunctureAcupuncture may help, depending on what's causing the incontinence. Acupuncture may also strengthen the urinary system. In one study, women who received 4 weekly bladder acupuncture treatments had significant improvement in symptoms of urinary incontinence compared to women who received placebo treatments. Following UpExercise and behavioral therapy can help many people get rid of their symptoms. You have to stick with the changes for them to work, so it may help to have support from a loved one and close monitoring by your doctor. Special ConsiderationsIf you are pregnant, consult with your doctor before taking any medication. For men, regular prostate examinations can find problems early. If the condition worsens, patients may suffer from depression, recurrent urinary tract infections, and social isolation. Stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence may lead to sexual dysfunction. Supporting ResearchAbed H, Rogers R. 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Gauruder-Burmester A, Wildt B, Tunn R. Treatment of overactive bladder with sodium chondroitin sulphate. Zentralbl Gynakol. 2006;128(6):336-340. Griebling TL. Urinary incontinence in the elderly. Clin Geriatr Med. 2009;25(3):445-457. Hashim H, Abrams P. Pharmacological management of women with mixed urinary incontinence. Drugs. 2006;66(5):591-606. Hay-Smith EJ, Dumoulin C. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(1):CD005654. Hermieu JF. Recommendations for the urodynamic examination in the investigation of non-neurological female urinary incontinence. Prog Urol. 2007;17(6 Suppl 2):1264-1284. Hersh L, Salzman B. Clinical management of urinary incontinence in women. Am Fam Physician. 2013;87(9):634-640. Holroyd-Leduc JM, Tannenbaum C, Thorpe KE, Straus SE. What type of urinary incontinence does this woman have? JAMA. 2008;299(12):1446-1456. Lee E, Nitti V, Brucker B. Midurethral slings for all stress incontinence. Urol Clin North Am. 2012;39(3):299-310. Matthews CA, Whitehead WE, Townsend MK, Grodstein F. Risk factors for urinary, fecal, and dual incontinence in the Nurses' Health Study. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(3):539-545. McKertich K. Urinary incontinence-assessment in women: stress, urge or both? Aust Fam Physician. 2008;37(3):112-117. Myers DL. Female mixed urinary incontinence: a clinical review. JAMA. 2014;311(19):2007-2014. Naranjo-Ortiz C, Clemente-Ramos LM, Salinas-Casado J, Mendez-Rubio S. Urodynamic approach to female urinary incontinence refractory to treatment with anticholinergics. Arch Esp Urol. 2012;65(10):879-886. Smith PP, McCrery RJ, Appell RA. Current trends in the evaluation and management of female urinary incontinence. CMAJ. 2006;175(10):1233-1240. Su CC, Sun BY, Jiann BP. Association of urinary incontinence and sexual function in women. Int J Urol. 2015;22(1):109-113. Tamaki T, Oinuma K, Shiratsuchi H, Akita K, Iida S. 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Review Date:
6/15/2016 Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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