The loss of bladder control, or urinary incontinence, is a common yet upsetting problem, reports MayoClinic.com. Incontinence may occur occasionally or as a complete loss of bladder control. According to MedlinePlus, the three types of bladder incontinence include stress, urge and overflow incontinence—and a person may suffer from more than one disorder. Incontinence may suddenly occur and last a short time or progressively worsen over several years.
Step 1
Seek initial medical advice to treat incontinence, suggests MedlinePlus. Discuss treating any underlying conditions or causes of the disorder. Treatment plans will vary depending on the cause of the bladder control loss, and a variety of treatments are often used.
Step 2
Start scheduling bathroom breaks. Begin a bathroom schedule set for every hour. Urinate, or attempt to, every hour. Try to hold the urine until the next bathroom break. Increase bathroom breaks every 30 minutes until you can hold your urine, without leaking, for three to four hours.
Step 3
Practice double voiding. MayoClinic.com describes the technique as initially completely emptying the bladder. Walk around for a few moments, stand up or even wash your hands. Immediately sit back down on the toilet and release any additional urine felt in the bladder. Continue the double void technique until you do not urinate a second time after several double void attempts.
Step 4
Hold the urine after sensing the initial urge to urinate. Start with waiting 10 minutes before you use the restroom and slightly increasing the waiting time over several days. MayoClinic.com states the goal of waiting to urinate is to increase time between bathroom breaks. A person should void every two to four hours as a final goal.
Step 5
Decrease caffeine products such as coffee, colas or teas in your diet. These liquids contain caffeine and cause you to make additional trips to the bathroom throughout the day. Increase exercises through the day as well as lose weight to gain additional bladder control.
Step 6
Perform Kegel exercises daily to increase pelvic floor muscles. Imagine urinating and then attempting to stop the flow of urine. The clenching sensation to stop urination uses the pelvic muscles. Practice tightening and squeezing the muscle for three seconds and then repeat. Watch yourself in a mirror while doing Kegel exercises. Your abdomen, buttocks and leg muscles should not move during the exercises. Do sets of Kegels daily—while driving, watching TV or in the shower.
