Who is Most Likely to Experience Urinary Incontinence?

Women who are living with pelvic floor disorders are susceptible to urinary incontinence, a debilitating condition that can cause limitations and embarrassment in social and daily activities. At Women’s Medical Group of Upland, our team works with patients to address symptoms and causes of urinary incontinence, and to create highly tailored intervention plans. Dr. Thomas Terence Easter is a board-certified OB/GYN who provides pelvic floor interventions for women throughout Upland and Claremont, CA.

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a common issue where there’s a partial or complete loss of bladder control. Severity can range from occasional leaking to urination without getting to the toilet in a timely manner. Urinary incontinence can be devastating to your daily routine, limiting your desire to visit with others and leave your home. At Women's Medical Group of Upland, Dr. Easter assesses and delineates the root cause(s) of urinary incontinence to provide effective treatment options.

Types of urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence rears its ugly head in several forms, depending on the cause and other related factors. Types of urinary incontinence include:

• Stress incontinence: Urine leaks with exerted pressure on the bladder via coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting, or exercising.

• Urge incontinence: There is a sudden urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine, often caused by an infection, diabetes, or neurological disorder.

• Overflow incontinence: Frequent or constant dripping of urine because the bladder won’t entirely empty.

• Functional incontinence: A physical or mental deficit keeps you from accessing the toilet on time.

• Mixed incontinence: There’s more than one type of urinary incontinence present.

Who is most likely to experience urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence tends to be more common in older adults, especially women. Many women go through pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, which are experiences that are rough on the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder. Over time, these muscles weaken and cause loss of bladder control that ranges in severity.

Are there other risk factors or causes for urinary incontinence?

Symptoms of urinary incontinence can also be linked to some of the following:

• Older age

• Neurological disorder (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke)

• Enlarged prostate in men

• Constipation

• Urinary tract infection

• Bladder or urethral obstruction (tumor)

• Certain medications (sedatives, muscle relaxants, blood pressure medications)

• High caffeine or alcohol intake

• Chocolate intake

• Chili peppers

• Artificial sweeteners

Can urinary incontinence go away on its own?

In most cases, symptoms of urinary incontinence don’t go away on their own. If left untreated, many symptoms worsen with time. At Women’s Medical Group of Upland, Dr. Easter recommends that patients experiencing symptoms of urinary incontinence be seen soon for an evaluation to get the right treatment early.

How is urinary incontinence treated?

Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of urinary incontinence you are experiencing and how symptoms are impacting your daily function. Available treatments may include:

• Prescription medications (anticholinergics)

• Physical or occupational therapy to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and address impaired function

• Bladder control retraining

• Dietary management (reducing alcohol, caffeine, or other foods that increase symptoms)

• Providing absorbent padding for any leakage

• In-dwelling catheterization

Learn more about treatment options for urinary incontinence

If you reside in or near Upland or Claremont, CA, and would like to learn more about our available treatment options for urinary incontinence, contact us today at Women’s Medical Group of Upland and schedule an appointment. Dr. Thomas Terence Easter will assess your symptoms and develop an intervention plan that addresses your concerns and improves your overall daily function.