Stress Incontinence
- Stress incontinence happens when physical movement or activity — such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, running or heavy lifting — puts pressure (stress) on your bladder, causing you to leak urine.
- Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress.
- Stress incontinence is different from urgency incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB).
- Stress incontinence is much more common in women than in men.
Symptoms:-
If you have stress incontinence, you may leak urine when you:-
- Cough or sneeze
- Laugh
- Bend over
- Lift something heavy
- Exercise
- Have sex
Causes:-
- Stress incontinence occurs when the muscles and other tissues that support the urethra (pelvic floor muscles) and the muscles that control the release of urine (urinary sphincter) weaken.
Your pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter may lose strength because of:-
- Childbirth In women, tissue or nerve damage during delivery of a child can weaken the pelvic floor muscles or the sphincter.
- In men, the surgical removal of the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer (prostatectomy) is the most common factor leading to stress incontinence.
- People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of stress incontinence.
Investigations:-
- Physical examination which may include a rectal exam and a pelvic exam.
- Urine sample to test for infection, traces of blood or other abnormalities.
- Brief neurological exam to identify any pelvic nerve problems.
- Some other test which may the doctor recommend are:-
- Measurements of post-void residual urine
- Measuring bladder pressures(Cystometry)
- Cystoscopy.
Management/Treatment:-
- Lifestyle changes to treat Stress Incontinence
- Pelvic floor muscle excercise.
- Maintain good bowel function.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking.
- Devices to control stress incontinence in female:-
- Tampons
- Vaginal Pessaries
- Urethral plug
- Devices to control stress incontinence in male.
- Penile clamp
- Clip devices
Apart from all the management or treatment options described above your Urologist will give you the final idea that what treatment option or surgical procedure will be best suitable for you.
