Female Incontinence...
Female Incontinence
There are various types of incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI): is the involuntary loss of urine during every day activities. This can occur when a woman coughs, sneezes, or stands up from a lying position. It can affect intercourse and other activities such as sports.
Urgency incontinence: which is the involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden desire to pass urine, which cannot be deferred. Symptoms may also include frequency and nocturia (waking up more than once at night to pass urine).
These symptoms are not life threatening, but it can disrupt a woman’s life and therefore affecting her quality of life.
Factors that may be associated with USI include childbirth, menopause (lack of oestrogen), trauma and previous surgery, obesity and straining to open her bowels(constipation).
Routine tests
- A urine sample mid-stream urine) is examined for signs of infection
- Bladder diary - to keep a record of how much fluid you drink per day or how much you urinate
- Urodynamic studies
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Cystoscopy (looking inside the bladder with a small camera)
Treatment
- Change in life style –managing fluid intake, weight loss, topical HRT and diets, which include lots of fibre to avoid constipation
- Pelvic floor exercises
- Medical
- Surgical
- TVT (tension-free vaginal tape)
- TOT (trans-obturator tape)
