Female Urinary Incontinence: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Management

NorthShore Care Supply May 7, 2021

Bladder leaks, or incontinence, affect many women, especially as they go through certain life events, including childbirth and aging. The condition can cause someone to leak before making it to the restroom, causing uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing situations. Luckily, there are options. In this guide, you will learn about some of the common types of urinary leaks, how to prevent them and how to manage them.

Do you want solutions for managing urinary incontinence? Browse our incontinence products catalog for super-absorbent supplies.

How Does Stress Incontinence Impact Women?

Stress incontinence occurs when the body experiences stress that puts pressure on the bladder. This is the most common form of incontinence. Stressors include:

Coughing
Sneezing
Laughing
Heavy Lifting
Cardiovascular Exercise

Causes of stress incontinence may include vaginal births, weight gain, hysterectomies, neurological changes and conditions and taking certain medications.

How is Urge Incontinence Different?

Urge incontinence occurs when the need 'to go' strikes suddenly. It can even happen, too, in the middle of the night. It is often related to a problem with the body's detrusor muscles that relax to fill the bladder and contract to expel urine. Causes of urge continence include drinking certain liquids, UTIs, constipation, neurological conditions and taking certain medications.

What Are The Signs of Overflow Incontinence?

Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder doesn't completely void itself and leaks over after urinating. This usually happens when there is a blockage preventing the full release of urine. The bladder can become blocked by bladder stones or constipation.

What Can Cause Functional Incontinence?

Functional incontinence occurs when the bladder works properly, but other physical ailments or environmental conditions prevent a person from making it to the restroom in time. Some conditions that can cause functional incontinence include:

Arthritis
Mental Disorders
Bad Vision
Urinary Tract Infection

What Can Women Do To Live With Urinary Incontinence?

While some incontinence is unavoidable, there are things you can do to try and lower the risk. See if these tips help and consult a physician to explore if medical treatment is needed.

Lose Weight

Losing weight will relieve some of the stress placed on the bladder. Eat healthily and regular exercise if possible.

Pelvic Exercises

Strengthening the pelvis may help increase bladder control. There are many online pelvic resources available or talk to a health care provider about devices to improve strength such as kegel balls.

Avoid Irritants

Certain drinks will increase the likelihood of incontinence. Eliminating such drinks can help improve results. Drinks that seem to commonly trigger female incontinence include:

Coffee
Energy Drinks
Alcohol
Acidic Drinks

Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment

No one wants to live with incontinence. Luckily, there may be solutions. See a doctor if you notice urinary incontinence symptoms are not going away, getting worse and/or affecting quality of life. To get the most information, a doctor will likely ask you to record urination habits for at least a couple of days or even up to a week. The bladder diet will include what you eat and drink each day, each time you urinate and how much urine is produced each time. This is when the doctor measures urine output and then measures how much remains in the bladder. When the doctor has the necessary information, a treatment plan will most likely be discussed.

Medication

One of the most common treatments is medication. Depending on the type of incontinence, the medication will either relax the bladder or strengthen the urethra.

Botox

Botox is used to freeze muscles, so this works best when the incontinence is caused by overstimulation. This is the case for many people who suffer from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Medical Devices

Doctors may use a device to help manage incontinence. A urethral insert absorbs any excess urine before it drips out of the vagina. A pessary looks like a ring and supports a collapsed bladder. Finally, a catheter is inserted into the urethra to empty any remaining urine.

Surgery

Some cases may require surgery. The two most common surgical procedures for incontinence are the sling procedure and retropubic colposuspension. The sling procedure is an outpatient procedure during which the doctor creates a 'hammock' to catch excess urine. A retropubic colposuspension is an inpatient procedure that is needed when the bladder has prolapsed and the doctor must secure it back in place.

When treatment is unable to fully address the symptoms of incontinence or the fear of leakage, there are various incontinence products and supplies that can be used to help manage bladder control problems.

Tips For Managing and Living With Incontinence

Treatment may not be able to rid incontinence symptoms completely. Even with treatment, most women must learn how to live with the condition. Here are some helpful tips:

Talk About It ... But Only If You Want To

Sometimes talking it out with family and friends can make people feel better. If unsure about disclosing your condition, think about checking out The Simon Foundation's helpful guide, "To Tell or Not To Tell."

Manage Liquid Intake

Most people have the luxury of drinking what they want without mentally creating an escape plan to the bathroom each time. If you realize you might not have a bathroom nearby, plan ahead. You probably don't want to drink a 'Big Gulp' in that case. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of liquid, and avoid drinking anything with a lot of caffeine or acid that may impact bladder capacity or function.

Carry Absorbent Products

Accidents will happen, and it won't always be possible to make it to a restroom in time. Be prepared for these moments by having incontinence products available when it is clear that reaching a bathroom when needed will not be possible. Depending on the incontinence level and absorbency needed, supplies can include tab-style briefs, protective underwear, liners, pads, waterproof covers and more. Keep items in a secret place like a purse or backpack and use them as necessary. You'll be happy to have them when and if the time comes. NorthShore carries a wide range of products with up to 3x the leak protection of leading store brands.

Bladder leaks, or adult urinary incontinence, can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, especially when they catch you by surprise. Please do something about it by going to the doctor to talk about it. Female urinary incontinence is natural, so try not to be too shy to seek necessary help ... and use absorbent products in the meantime to help manage and live life to the fullest.