Incontinence

Incontinence is the experience of bladder uncontrollability. It is the loss of bladder control that’s commonly seen in older adults and women who have experienced giving birth or menopause. Other reasons that could also result in this condition may be due to urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic floor disorders and an enlarged prostate.

 

Incontinence can range in severity from a small leak to a complete loss of bladder.

 

Stress incontinence

 

The most common form of incontinence, stress incontinence refers to when the pelvic floor muscles are weak and can no longer support the pelvic organs as they should. In many cases, urine leakage issues happen when a person laughs, coughs, sneezes, runs, jumps, or lifts things. These simple actions all put pressure on your bladder, and you are more likely to leak urine without the support from having strong pelvic muscles. Women who have experienced childbirth have higher risks of experiencing stress incontinence. \

 

What are the symptoms of incontinence?

 

The main symptom of incontinence is urine leakage. This could refer to constant urine dripping or an occasional experience of leakage. A person who has incontinence would likely have large or small amounts of leaked urine.

 

You might experience urine leakage when you:

• Exercise.

• Cough.

• Laugh.

• Sneeze.

• Feel an urge to urinate but can’t reach the toilet in time.

• Have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate.

 

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Incontinence

 

Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to properly relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement. Symptoms include constipation, finding it hard to defecate, having urine or stool leakage, and feeling the need to pee frequently.

 

What does pelvic floor dysfunction feel like?

 

Here are several symptoms that may signal that you have pelvic floor dysfunction:

• Frequently feeling the need to go. You may also feel like you need to ‘force it out’ or you might stop and start many times.

• Constipation, or a straining pain during your bowel movements. It’s common to say that up to half of people suffering from long-term constipation may also have pelvic floor dysfunction.

• Struggling to pass a bowel movement or having to change positions while on the toilet or use your hand to help eliminate stool.

• Leaking stool or urine (incontinence).

• Feeling pain during urination.

• Feeling pain in your lower back with no other cause.

• Feeling constant pain in your pelvic region, genitals, or rectum — regardless of having a bowel movement.