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Less Intrusive Urinary Incontinence Treatment

By Olivia Cross


Few people are able to speak up about the urinary incontinence due to its embarrassing nature. The problem was common in the old a while back but now affects people across different age groups on both genders. Over three quarters of those who seek urinary incontinence treatment are women.

The treatment offered to the patient is dependent on the severity of the problem and the type of urinary incontinence. The treatment options that are available include taking prescriptions, bladder training, pelvic muscle exercises, and surgery among others. Doctors always start with less intrusive methods if the condition is not severe. If the urologist discovers another condition as the cause for incontinence, the condition is first deal with before or along with incontinence treatment. Fistula, a condition caused by the tearing of the womb in women who experience prolonged and difficult labor and enlarged prostrate glands in menfolk are common causes of incontinence.

Changing few aspects of your lifestyle is the first form of treatment that does not involve medical intervention. Your urologist may suggest that you modify some habits to relieve the symptoms. Such changes could be lowering the intake of water and other fluids in the day so as to bring down the amount of urine that you generate.

Intake of lots of fluids containing caffeine also leads to production of large amounts of urine in the body. Caffeine is a major ingredient in many energy drinks, cola and coffee. One may be advised to limit the intake of such drinks. Research has also shown the obesity affects the proper functioning of pelvic floor muscles. If the patient is overweight, he may be advised on ways of cutting on weight to improve his health.

There are muscles at the pelvic area that control the passage of urine. They are found around the urethra and the bladder and keep the passage shut until one is ready to urinate. If they get weak or some condition damages them, they may be strengthened by a therapy. The therapy involves physical contraction of the muscles by a patient. It is performed at least thrice a day with at least eight contractions every session. The progress of patient is monitored by the doctor and program adjusted accordingly.

When the pelvic floor muscle exercise does not help improve the situation, the doctor may recommend a device to measure and stimulate electrical signals in the muscles. The electric stimulator is a small probe that is inserted into the vagina in women and anus in men. Some current is passed to the body through the device and helps contract the muscle as you exercise them. It is a little unpleasant but very beneficial.

Patients with urge incontinence take up bladder training as the primary treatment. The training helps lengthen the period that one would urinate after feeling the urge. It takes six weeks to complete it.

For women with weak pelvic floor muscles and are unable to exercise them, vaginal cones could be of assistance. These are small weights that are inserted into vagina to help in pelvic floor muscle training. You are meant to hold the weights in place with your pelvic muscles. The weights come in different weights but, you start with the lightest to the heaviest. This kind of treatment is very helpful for women that suffer from stress incontinence.




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