Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Hyderabad
Urinary incontinence is the uncontrollable leaking of urine and it can be an embarrassing problem. Many people experience this condition but do not tell anyone about the signs. It occurs more often when you get older but age cannot be the only reason for this. If you are unable to perform your daily activities due to urinary incontinence, do not hesitate and visit your doctor for an early diagnosis.
Types of Urinary Incontinence and Their Signs
The type of urine incontinence is based on how and when the urine leakage takes place. The following are the different types and their signs:
- Stress incontinence: It is a common type and is seen in women who have menopause. It occurs by exerting pressure on your bladder and muscles. Stress incontinence occurs when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. It also occurs while exercising and while lifting heavy objects.
- Urge incontinence: It is also known as overactive bladder and you have a sudden urge to urinate and it cannot be controlled. It occurs due to a sudden involuntary contraction of the bladder’s muscular wall. The urine leaks immediately irrespective of the things you do to stop it. It can occur due to an infection, during sex, a sudden change in position, or can be due to the sound of running water.
- Overflow incontinence: It is most common in men and it occurs due to a blocked urethra, a damaged bladder, or prostate gland problems. In this case, the bladder cannot be emptied completely and the urine leaks in small amounts. You may either experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine.
- Mixed incontinence: It is often a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
- Functional incontinence: If you have this incontinence, you know that you want to go to the washroom to urinate but cannot do so due to physical or mental impairment. It can occur due to confusion, poor mobility, eyesight, depression, anger, and anxiety.
- Total incontinence: This type of incontinence leads to continuous leaking of urine or it can be periodically without any control.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence can occur due to some underlying health issues, everyday habits, or due to physical issues. The following are the causes of different types of urine incontinence:
Stress Incontinence
The causes of stress incontinence include:
- Childbirth
- Pregnancy
- Age
- Obesity
- Hysterectomy and other surgeries
- Menopause
Urge incontinence
The causes of urge incontinence are as follows:
- Cystitis
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Enlarged prostate
Overflow incontinence
The causes include:
- Enlarged prostate gland
- Constipation
- Stones in the urinary bladder
- A tumor that exerts pressure on the bladder
Total incontinence
The reasons for total incontinence are:
- A birth defect
- A spinal cord injury
- A fistula
Apart from this, there can also be other reasons for urine incontinence such as:
- Alcohol consumption
- Urinary tract infection
- Obesity
Diagnosis of Urinary Incontinence
The doctor will ask you about the signs you experience to determine the type of urinary incontinence you have. The doctor also asks about your medical history and will conduct a physical exam.
The doctor can also use the following tests for diagnosis:
- Urinalysis: A sample of urine will be collected and is tested for any signs of infections and abnormalities.
- Blood test: This helps to know the functioning of the kidneys.
- Postvoid residual measurement: For this test, you will be asked to urinate in a container. Then the doctor checks the remaining amount of urine in the bladder using an ultrasound test. If a large amount of urine is left in the bladder, it might indicate a blockage in the urinary tract.
- Stress test: You need to exert pressure during the test and the doctor will check the amount of urine leaked.
Treatment for Urinary Incontinence
The treatment for urinary incontinence is based on the type, severity, your age, and underlying cause. If it is caused due to some underlying condition, the doctor focuses on treating the underlying cause.
The doctor begins the treatment with less invasive methods and then moves to other methods if the initial methods do not work. The treatment options include:
- Bladder training: This focuses on training you to control urination, completely emptying the bladder, and making a schedule to urinate for every two hours.
- Behaviour therapy: It involves making changes in the diet, managing fluid intake, and following the schedule of urination.
- Medications: In some cases, the use of certain medications can treat urine incontinence.
- Catheter placement: A catheter is used to collect the urine in a bag to manage overflow incontinence.
- Weight loss: Being overweight can exert more pressure on the bladder and losing weight can relieve the signs.
- Absorbent undergarments: There are several types of absorbent undergarments in the market to deal with urine leaks.
- Medical devices: Medical devices such as bulking agents, pessary, and urethral inserts can be used.
- Surgery: Surgery is considered only if the other treatments do not help. Different surgical procedures include sling procedure, colposuspension, and artificial sphincter.
Looking for Urinary Incontinence Treatment? Visit Dr Mallikarjuna Reddy Today
Dr Mallikarjuna Reddy has over 30 years of experience as a urologist in Hyderabad. He is a highly experienced urologist and one of Hyderabad’s best robotic surgeons. He has experience in conducting both adult and pediatric surgeries in Hyderabad. He is an expert in advanced laparoscopic surgeries along with other treatment methods. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today.