6 myths about urinary incontinence in women
According to materials published by WHO, urinary incontinence is the most common urogynecological problem. In our country, about 30 million women suffer from it. The pathology itself is not considered dangerous, but it significantly reduces the quality of life and causes serious psychological discomfort. Many patients are embarrassed to talk about their problem even to gynecologists and seek help only with advanced pathology, which is fraught with the most unpleasant complications. In addition, some people share misconceptions about this condition and sometimes make mistakes that contribute to its amplification.
We will try to dispel the most common myths about urinary incontinence in women.
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Incontinence is a sign of aging
The causes of urinary incontinence can vary; not all are associated with age-related changes in the body. Fluctuations in hormonal levels that occur during menopause really contribute to a weakening of the tone of the bladder, and many women at this time begin to suffer from incontinence. However, this violation cannot be considered an indispensable sign of aging, since menopause sometimes occurs in middle-aged women, when there can still be no talk of decrepitude. Incontinence can be caused by factors other than age.
Bladder volume shrinks with age
It is not true. Changes in the volume of the bladder are very rare and have very serious reasons, such as a tumor, but are never associated with the aging process. The shrinkage of the bladder is not directly related to its ability to retain fluid.
The problem can be solved by reducing fluid intake
Sometimes women, when faced with incontinence, try to reduce their daily fluid intake, believing that this will give them better control over the functioning of the bladder. This approach is wrong and dangerous: violation of the norms of fluid intake is fraught with deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract, increased blood viscosity and other health problems that inevitably arise against the background of dehydration.
The situation can be corrected to some extent by getting rid of the habit of consuming liquids in large portions. The problem will not go away, but the risk of urine leakage from coughing, sneezing or physical exertion will be reduced. This is because the incontinence is worse when the bladder fills quickly. The most correct thing is to drink often and little by little, literally one sip at a time.
Exercise increases incontinence
Physical exertion and sudden movements do not aggravate the problem of incontinence, but only provoke urine leakage. A woman should not avoid playing sports, walking in the fresh air, working in the country and outdoor activities. Refusal to exercise will lead to a decrease in smooth muscle tone and weight gain, and these factors increase the manifestations of urinary incontinence.
It is very important to correctly distribute physical activity. Sports activities must be coordinated with the attending physician, and it is better to entrust the selection of a set of exercises to a specialist in physiotherapy exercises.
It is good to wear sanitary pads for incontinence
Sanitary pads that are designed to absorb menstrual flow should not be used for incontinence. They are not able to absorb the amount of liquid in which it enters when urine leaks, and do not eliminate the unpleasant odor. Moreover, their use in such a situation can lead to increased reproduction of pathogenic microflora, which is fraught with infection of the organs of the genitourinary system. The appearance of skin rashes is also possible.
There are special urological pads, the use of which does not lead to complications and helps to reduce the severity of the problem.
Incontinence that occurs during pregnancy always goes away on its own
Unfortunately, this is not so. For many new mothers, the problem of incontinence remains relevant after childbirth. The most sure thing in such a situation is to see a doctor, without waiting for the unpleasant symptoms to intensify. As a rule, the manifestations of the disease can be gradually dealt with with the help of an individually selected set of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. In any case, a specialist will determine the cause of the problem and recommend a way to eliminate it.
Urinary incontinence can have one of the following causes:
- violations associated with difficult childbirth (prolapse or prolapse of the uterus, damage to the ligamentous apparatus of the pelvic floor, etc.);
- insufficiently correctly performed stitching of birth tears;
- a mistake made by a doctor when performing a surgical intervention on the pelvic organs;
- changes in muscle tone that have arisen against the background of menopause;
- traumatic damage to tissues or organs of the genitourinary system;
- neurological disorders that provoke disturbances in the transmission of impulses by the pelvic nerves (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, neoplasms in the central nervous system, the consequences of strokes);
- infections of the urinary tract (eg, cystitis);
- performing professional duties associated with heavy physical exertion, or frequent lifting of weights in everyday life.
Treatment for urinary incontinence is usually complex. Therapy includes medication, exercise therapy, and physical therapy. There are also herbal preparations that help reduce the manifestations of the disease. If the disease is advanced, the doctor may recommend surgery (implantation of an implant to help control urination, etc.).
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Maria Kulkes Medical journalist About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov, specialty "General Medicine".
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