Urinary incontinence is an issue that affects millions of Americans and, much like other conditions, it tends to vary in terms of both cause and severity. Because of this, there are a wide range of treatments that are suggested to help depending on the underlying cause, type of incontinence an individual is experiencing, and severity of the issue at hand. Doctors will typically suggest conservative treatments that do not involve surgeries first and, for this reason, we wanted to provide an overview of non-invasive treatment options that are utilized to treat urinary incontinence in men and women.
Behavioral Techniques & Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
Bladder control training is often suggested as a non-invasive way to treat urinary incontinence. For example, pelvic muscle exercises (Kegel exercises) can be utilized to gain better control over the muscles that you use to stop urination. Timed voiding is another type of bladder control method where an individual urinates on a set schedule. Over time, one can begin extending the time between their trips to the bathroom.
Lifestyle changes may also be suggested as a way to help alleviate some of the symptoms of incontinence. Reducing caffeine intake by eliminating or reducing the consumption of tea, coffee, and cola can prove effective for some individuals due to caffeine’s status as a diuretic. Other lifestyle changes that may be suggested for treating incontinence consist of losing weight, altering the amount of fluid consumed daily, and avoiding alcohol.
Electrical Stimulation
For electrode stimulation to treat urinary incontinence, electrodes are inserted into the rectum or vagina as a means to stimulate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Stress and urge incontinence can often be treated with gentle electrical stimulation, but it is possible that an individual will need several months of treatment for the best efficiency.
Medications
Medications may also be recommended by your doctor to treat incontinence and often work by relaxing the bladder muscle. For example, anticholinergics such as tolterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin, trospium, fesoterodine, and oxybutynin can help with urge incontinence by calming an overactive bladder. Mirabegron can also be used to help with urge incontinence and works by relaxing the bladder muscle to allow it to increase the amount of urine it can hold. For women, hormone treatment via local vaginal/urethral estrogen therapy can prove helpful as a treatment for incontinence after menopause. The treatment can improve the health of the vaginal walls, urethra, and bladder neck which can alleviate symptoms of irritative bladder and incontinence.
Incontinence Pads and Catheters
In cases where treatments cannot completely alleviate symptoms of incontinence, products such as incontinence pads can be used to assist with leaking urine. There are a wide range of absorbent incontinence pads and other protective garments on the market that can be found online, and at pharmacies and supermarkets, making them a simple option for combatting drips. Urinary catheters are another equally viable option that collects urine into a bag outside the body via a tube from the bladder through the urethra.
Treating your urinary incontinence symptoms can greatly help your quality of life. It is important to enjoy your activities without being troubled by leaks and other urinary problems. For any questions related to the incontinence products we supply, one of our Personally Delivered Product Experts will be happy to help. We are just a phone call away!
