Urinary incontinence is when you urinate when you do not mean to (involuntarily).
What are the causes?
There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence, including:
Medicines.
Infections.
Enlargement of the prostate in men. The prostate is a gland near the bladder. When it gets too big, it can cause overflow of urine from the bladder.
Surgery.
Diseases that affect the nerves or spinal cord (neurological diseases).
Emotional factors.
What increases the risk?
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have. There are four types:
Urge incontinence. This is the involuntary loss of urine before you can get to the bathroom. You have a sudden urge to urinate but you do not have enough time …show more content…
This may be recommended if tissue masses in the uterus (fibroids) are causing incontinence.
Treatment for total incontinence may include:
Surgery on the urethral sphincters. This may involve placing an artificial sphincter around the urethra.
In women, surgery to close a hole-like passage between the vagina and bladder (vesicovaginal fistula), if this is causing incontinence.
Follow these instructions at home:
Keep yourself clean to help prevent odors and skin damage.
Consider wearing pads or adult diapers. Make sure to change them regularly, and always change them right after experiencing incontinence.
Avoid caffeine. It can overstimulate your bladder.
Use the bathroom about every 2–3 hours , even if you do not feel the need to urinate. Try to empty your bladder completely every time. After urinating, wait a minute. Then try to urinate again.
If your incontinence is caused by nerve dysfunction, keep a log of the medicines you take and the times you go to the bathroom.
Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
If you were prescribed an antibiotic, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel
What are the causes?
There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence, including:
Medicines.
Infections.
Enlargement of the prostate in men. The prostate is a gland near the bladder. When it gets too big, it can cause overflow of urine from the bladder.
Surgery.
Diseases that affect the nerves or spinal cord (neurological diseases).
Emotional factors.
What increases the risk?
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have. There are four types:
Urge incontinence. This is the involuntary loss of urine before you can get to the bathroom. You have a sudden urge to urinate but you do not have enough time …show more content…
This may be recommended if tissue masses in the uterus (fibroids) are causing incontinence.
Treatment for total incontinence may include:
Surgery on the urethral sphincters. This may involve placing an artificial sphincter around the urethra.
In women, surgery to close a hole-like passage between the vagina and bladder (vesicovaginal fistula), if this is causing incontinence.
Follow these instructions at home:
Keep yourself clean to help prevent odors and skin damage.
Consider wearing pads or adult diapers. Make sure to change them regularly, and always change them right after experiencing incontinence.
Avoid caffeine. It can overstimulate your bladder.
Use the bathroom about every 2–3 hours , even if you do not feel the need to urinate. Try to empty your bladder completely every time. After urinating, wait a minute. Then try to urinate again.
If your incontinence is caused by nerve dysfunction, keep a log of the medicines you take and the times you go to the bathroom.
Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
If you were prescribed an antibiotic, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel