WHAT IS URINARY INCONTINENCE?
BioHRT Medical News
Urinary incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle at the base of your bladder becomes so weak (or the bladder muscle becomes overactive) that you have little or no control over the flow of urine. Although this condition is not life threatening, it can be debilitating and embarrassing.
The Relationship Between Hormones and Incontinence
Does menopause affect bladder control?
Yes. Some women have bladder control problems after they stop having periods (a result of menopause or change of life). The relationship between bladder control and hormonal balance becomes increasingly important as women age and transition through menopause. After your periods end, your body stops making the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen helps to keep the sphincter muscle tight, and when estrogen levels decline during menopause, the muscle can become weak and flaccid, allowing leakage of urine.
You can use a mirror to check yourself. The normal appearance of the urethral tissue is pink, plump and moist. With declining estrogen it may appear very pale or almost white. This means the opening to the bladder may be weaker and less able to maintain good bladder control, or less resilient to irritation or infection.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF URINARY INCONTINENCE
Causes of incontinence at or after menopause include irritable bladder, diabetes mellitus, local infections such as cystitis, obesity, prior pregnancy without vaginal deliveries and episiotomies, lack of estrogen, and prior surgery such as hysterectomy.
The three types of incontinence are as follows:
- Stress Incontinence: the leakage of a small amount of urine caused by an increase in pressure inside the abdomen when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or lift a heavy object.
- Urge Incontinence: occurs if you wait until you need to urinate urgently. The bladder starts to contract involuntarily and empties itself. This type of incontinence is often triggered by a sudden change in position, such as standing up.
- Mixed Pattern Incontinence: a combination of both urge and stress incontinence, and may be the result of two faults in bladder function.
Facts About Urinary Incontinence
- It is estimated 17 million US citizens experience one form of urinary incontinence.
- 85% affected are women.
- 1 in 12 people with urinary incontinence tells their doctor.
- There are a number of things that cause urinary incontinence.
- Urinary incontinence can be treated and most often does not require surgery.
Signs That You May Be Experiencing Urinary Incontinence
- Sudden leakage of urine that prevents you from participating in normal everyday activities
- Leakage of urine that began or continued after an operation (Hysterectomy, Caesarian Section, Prostate Surgery, etc.)
- Inability to urinate (retention of urine)
- Urinating more frequently than usual without a known bladder infection
- Needing to rush to the bathroom and/or losing urine if you do not "arrive on time"
- Pain related to filling the bladder, and/or pain related to urination (in the absence of a bladder infection)
- Frequent bladder infections
- Embarrassing moments due to sudden leakage in urine
- Progressive weakness of the urinary stream with or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Abnormal urination or changes in urination related to a nervous system abnormality (stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, etc.)
Used in conjunction with BioHRT Therapy, following are some suggestions to help with the symptoms of incontinence.
- Empty your bladder every two hours
- Avoid diuretic drinks such as tea and coffee
- Acupuncture
- Kegel exercises
What is a Kegel Exercise?
Dr. Arnold Kegel developed a set of exercises in the 1940s to help strengthen pelvic muscles, particularly those of the urethra, vagina, and anus. The exercises will not only combat urinary incontinence, but will also make sex more pleasurable and give women more acute vaginal sensations.
How do I do the Kegel Exercise?
You can locate the muscles used in Kegel exercises by stopping the flow of urine mid-stream when emptying your bladder. Kegel exercises can be done at any time and at any place: all you have to do is draw up the vaginal muscles, hold for a count of five, and then relax. Repeat this process five times. You should do the whole routine at least ten times a day.
Source: Dr. Miriam Stoppard, NeoControl