Urinary Incontinence: It’s More Common Than You Think
Posted on October 21, 2022
Urinary incontinence is defined as the loss of bladder control and it affects about 25 million people in the U.S. Symptoms can range from mild leaking to uncontrollable wetting. It can happen to anyone, but becomes more common as we age.
For women, incontinence can be the result of childbirth, as well as the weakening of the pelvic muscles when estrogen levels drop after menopause. With men, prostate problems are usually the cause. In addition, some medications can cause incontinence, or make it worse. Two common types of incontinence are stress incontinence, which occurs when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy, and urge incontinence, when you feel a constant need to go.
Talk to Your Doctor: If you have any form of incontinence, the first step in getting help is an honest talk with your primary care provider. There are several ways they can diagnose what type of incontinence you have and what is causing it. And, they can create a treatment plan specific to your circumstances, or refer you to a urogynecologist for women or a urologist for men for further treatment.
To learn more about incontinence and bladder control from the experts at Baystate Health, visit www.baystatehealth.org/news/2021/10/bladder-control-101.
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