Urinary Incontinence Treatment

• Urinary Tract Infection
• Overactive bladder muscle
• Weak bladder muscle
• Weight gain, childbirth, pregnancy or other conditions that stretch pelvic floor muscles
• Constipation
• Hysterectomy or removal of the uterus
• Nerves issues which control urination
• Neurological disorders

Depending on the symptoms, it can be categorized into 5 basic types:

Urge Incontinence

Leakage of large amount of urine in unexpected times, even while sleeping

Stress Incontinence

Involuntary loss of urine with minimal pressure such as coughing or sneezing

Overflow Incontinence

Overflow incontinence is a frequent leaking of urine involuntarily because the bladder is not emptied completely

Functional Incontinence

Urine loss resulting to inability to reach the toilet

Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence is a combination of two or more types, mostly stress and urge incontinence may occur together

An individual can undergo treatments depending on the severity of incontinence, type and underlying causes. There are several treatments that can be done in Melbourne.

Bladder Training

The goal of this treatment is to gradually increase the amount of urine that an individual can hold. This can be possible by deferral of voiding in order to increase the duration in between toilet trips.

Kegel Exercises

To improve your bladder control, it is essential to exercise the pelvic floor muscles in a correct way to strengthen and enhance the muscles which help in holding urine. The pelvic floor is made up of stretched muscles from front pubic bone through the bottom of the backbone. Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles that support pelvic contents and stops the escape of wind, urine or feces.

Exercises also include muscle tightening which is the muscle that we use to stop urinating. Hold it for five seconds then release and relax for five seconds, then gradually try to hold the contractions for 10 seconds each time. Try to do it in 10 repetitions each day.

Diet and Fluid intake management

Reducing excessive fluid intake, losing weight and increasing physical activity can help improve the condition. Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol intake as well as eating spicy foods which might stimulate the bladder.

If an individual still has symptoms after undergoing conservative procedures and still did not work, surgery is often being suggested.

For urge incontinence:

Injecting Anti Wrinkle Injection into the bladder might help improve the condition. This procedure is being done as one-day case and the result can be seen immediately. Injections can be repeated if required.

For stress incontinence:

Sling procedures

• Most common procedure being done in women with stress urinary incontinence. This procedure is being done using the patient’s own tissue or using mesh to create stretched muscles to support the urethra. Success rate of sling procedures is approximately 90%. This can also be done in men who have mild condition after prostatic surgery.

Artificial urinary sphincter

• This is a device which is being implanted to treat men with severe conditions of stress incontinence. An inflatable cuff substitutes with urethra and plays the role of it. This device can help to close the urethra and hold the urine until you are ready to urinate. This procedure has a very high success rate and only requires an overnight hospital confinement.

Vaginal Repair

• Urinary stress incontinence is usually obtained due to weakness of vaginal wall and bladder prolapse. Elevating the bladder by anterior vaginal repair has always been one of recommended treatment options. If vaginal prolapse is more severe, this procedure can be extended to include from, back and vagina vault repair.

Most common medications for the treatment are within the general category of anticholinergics – medicines that are designed to help the bladder relaxed.

This condition is common in older people especially women. Incontinence can often be cured and controlled. Several treatments and procedures are available to improve this condition.

Based on studies, women spends approximately $750/year. After surgery approximately 2 years, the cost is between $190-$560.