What is Female Incontinence?
Female incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine, which occurs when a woman loses control over her bladder. It is a common condition, especially among older women, but it can affect women of any age. Incontinence in women is often linked to childbirth, menopause, and the anatomical structure of the female urinary system.
What Causes Female Incontinence?
Female incontinence is primarily caused by factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, which can weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Other causes include obesity, smoking, ageing, and chronic conditions like diabetes. Neurological disorders, certain medications, and urinary tract infections can also contribute to the development of incontinence.
What are the Symptoms of Female Incontinence?
The symptoms of female incontinence depend on the type. Stress incontinence causes leakage during physical exertion, sneezing, or coughing. Urge incontinence involves a sudden, intense urge to urinate, leading to leaks before reaching the toilet. Mixed incontinence combines symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence, while overflow incontinence is marked by constant dribbling or incomplete bladder emptying.
Who is at Risk for Female Incontinence?
Women are at higher risk for incontinence if they have given birth, especially if they have had multiple pregnancies or vaginal deliveries. Aging, obesity, and a family history of incontinence also increase risk. Menopause, which leads to decreased oestrogen levels, can weaken the urinary tract, further elevating the risk. Chronic conditions like diabetes and neurological diseases are additional risk factors.
How is Female Incontinence Diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically includes a medical history review, physical examination, and specific tests like urinalysis or urodynamic studies to evaluate bladder function. Additional imaging studies, such as ultrasounds or cystoscopies, may be used to assess the urinary tract and diagnose underlying issues.
What are the Treatment Options for Female Incontinence?
Treatment for female incontinence depends on the type of incontinence, its severity, the underlying cause, and your overall health. Whenever appropriate, treatment may begin with non-invasive approaches before considering medications or surgery.
Non-Invasive Treatments
Several non-invasive treatments can help improve bladder control and strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and urethra. These may include:
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises: Regular pelvic floor exercises can strengthen the muscles involved in controlling urination.
- Bladder training: Gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits may help improve bladder control, particularly for some people with urge incontinence.
- Lifestyle changes: Managing fluid intake, reducing bladder irritants, maintaining a healthy weight, and addressing constipation may help reduce symptoms.
- Electrical stimulation: In selected patients, controlled electrical stimulation may help activate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
- EMSELLA® Chair: This non-invasive treatment uses electromagnetic stimulation to produce repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions. It may be considered for certain patients with stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence and other forms of pelvic floor weakness.
EMSELLA® Chair for Urinary Incontinence
The EMSELLA® Chair provides pelvic floor muscle stimulation while the patient remains fully clothed. The treatment does not require incisions, anaesthesia, or a surgical recovery period, and patients can generally return to their normal activities after a session.
EMSELLA® may be suitable for some women and men experiencing urinary incontinence, including pelvic floor weakness associated with ageing, childbirth, menopause, or following prostate surgery. A urological assessment can help determine whether EMSELLA® is an appropriate treatment based on the individual's symptoms and medical history.
Learn more about the EMSELLA® Chair
Medications
Depending on the underlying cause, medications may be recommended to help manage urinary urgency, frequency, or other bladder-control problems. Your urologist can determine whether medication is appropriate and discuss its potential benefits and side effects.
Surgical Treatments
When conservative and non-invasive treatments do not adequately control symptoms, surgery may be considered. Depending on the type and cause of urinary incontinence, surgical options may include:
- Urethral sling: A sling can provide support to the urethra and may be used to treat certain types of stress urinary incontinence.
- Colposuspension: This surgical procedure supports the bladder neck and urethra to help improve bladder control.
- Other procedures: Additional surgical or minimally invasive treatments may be considered depending on the individual's condition.