Healthy Her | What is Urinary Incontinence?
- Category: Women's Health
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According to the American Urological Association, a quarter to a third of men and women in the United States suffer from urinary incontinence. The number is not more precise number because many people keep these symptoms secret due to feelings of embarrassment. That means roughly 33 million Americans suffer in silence with symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is the leaking of urine that cannot be controlled. There are four different types of urinary incontinence.
Stress incontinence: when weakened pelvic floor muscles let urine escape during a stressor. Examples are coughing, sneezing, bending, lifting, walking, or exercising.
Overactive bladder: when your brain tells your bladder to empty, even when it is not full, or the bladder muscles are too active. This will often interrupt day-to-day life with extra trips to the bathroom day and night.
Mixed incontinence: a combination of the first two types.
Overflow incontinence: when the body makes more urine than the bladder can hold or the bladder is full and cannot empty. In addition, there may be something blocking the flow or the bladder muscle may not be able to contract as it should. (This type of incontinence is rare in women; this is often related to men who have prostate issues.)
Urinary incontinence is not just a medical issue but an emotional and social issue as well. It can cause people to avoid certain activities for fear of being too far from a bathroom. This can add up over time causing barriers to social activities.
Many people think that urinary incontinence is just a part of aging, but that’s not the case. It can be managed or treated when you seek the right resources. That might look like a visit to your PCP, OB-GYN, urologist, or a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Pelvic floor physical therapy assesses the strength, coordination, endurance, and general function of pelvic floor muscles. This assessment can help to identify causes of urinary incontinence.
“It is completely normal to feel nervous about starting pelvic floor physical therapy. It is a new experience and a very personal topic,” said Laurie Repoll, PT, MSHSA, PRPC, physical therapist with Infirmary Health Therapy Services. “I create a safe and comfortable environment for patients to share. The progression of the evaluation and treatments is individualized to the patient’s comfort zone, both emotionally and physically. The patient is always in control of that progression.”
Learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy and Infirmary Health Therapy Services here.
