Urinary Incontinence
Are you constantly looking for the bathroom or worried about having an “accident” in public? If so, you may be among the approximately 25 million adult Americans who experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of urine control, or the inability to hold your urine until you can reach a restroom. UI can affect people of any age or gender but is most common in women over age 50.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging but is particularly common in older people. It is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications, and/or the onset of an illness. Sometimes it is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Women are most likely to develop incontinence either during pregnancy and childbirth or after the hormonal changes of menopause, because of weakened pelvic muscles.
Treatment Options
Treatment can include minimally invasive surgery, medication and/or physical therapy. Specific treatment for urinary incontinence will be determined by your doctor based on your age, overall health, medical history and extent of the disease.
Women struggling with urinary incontinence may wish to speak with a urogynecologist.