Urinary incontinence impacts self-esteem and can lead a person to isolate themselves. This condition is not always permanent; treatments can strengthen the pelvic floor and urinary sphincter muscles, and procedures can help you regain urinary continence. Speak to your physician as soon as urinary incontinence begins to explore rehabilitation options.
Kegels
Stress incontinence is the inability to stop urine leakage when pressure is placed on the abdominal muscles. Extra pressure is placed on the abdominal muscles when a person coughs, sneezes, laughs and exercises. If you experience incontinence due to a sudden urge to urinate without warning, you have urge incontinence. According to MayoClinic.com, kegel exercises are effective in strengthening the urinary sphincter and muscles of the pelvic floor. Performing these exercises frequently can lessen stress incontinence and help urge incontinence. Kegels exercises are performed by trying to stop your urine flow or by squeezing the muscles you would use to stop urination.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation treats urinary incontinence by sending an electric current to nerves involved in urination. Electrical stimulation therapy can be performed at home with an anal or vaginal electrode device. Timing and duration of therapy vary with each patient. According to Cigna, vaginal and anal electrical stimulation is thought to make the muscles contract and strengthen, but the way it works is not fully understood. Another theory of how electrical stimulation helps incontinence is by encouraging the growth of nerve cells that cause the muscles to contract.
Medication
Anticholinergics are drugs used to treat urge incontinence by calming overactive bladders, such as Ditropan, Detrol and Vesicare. Low-doses of topical estrogen can help with incontinence and are come in the form of vaginal creams, patches or rings. These medications are used to help tone and rejuvenate tissues in the urethra and vaginal areas. Tofranil is categorized as a tricyclic antidepressant and is approved for treatment of both urge and stress incontinence.
Devices
MayoClinic.com reports that incontinence can be treated with medical devices and are only able to be used by women. Urethral inserts are similar to tampons but they insert into the urethra to prevent urine from leaking out. You need a prescription for these and can not be used daily. Women use these devices when participating in certain activities, such as running, that they know cause incontinence. The device must be removed before urination. A pessary is a ring inserted into the vagina and can be worn all day. This device holds the bladder up and is appropriate for women that have a dropped bladder. This device needs to be regularly removed and cleaned.
