Subscribe
Urinary incontinence
What tests are needed for urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence generally requires comprehensive examinations, including the following: First, a routine urinary system examination to determine the presence of inflammation and whether it is a case of urgent urinary incontinence. Other urinary system examinations such as ultrasound can clarify whether the urinary incontinence is genuine or pseudo. A residual urine test might be conducted. For example, if a significant amount of residual urine is found after urination during an ultrasound, it may be considered pseudo urinary incontinence. Additional examinations can include urodynamics studies, which can reflect the function of the bladder detrusor muscle and the urethral sphincter. If stress urinary incontinence is confirmed, surgical treatment may be considered based on the severity of the symptoms. Stress urinary incontinence generally refers to middle-aged and older women who have had multiple natural childbirths, leading to relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles after childbirth causing relaxation of the muscles around the urethra. This can lead to urine leakage during sudden laughter, coughing, vigorous activities, or even loud speaking. In such cases, stress urinary incontinence should be considered. It is recommended to seek further diagnosis and treatment from the urology department at a local hospital.
What department should I go to for urinary incontinence?
For urinary incontinence, one should consult the urology department. There are many causes of urinary incontinence, with the most common being diseases of the central nervous system, surgeries, urinary retention, unstable bladder, post-menopausal effects in women, childbirth injuries, etc. Its clinical manifestations are mainly of four types: urgency incontinence, stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, and functional incontinence. Regular visits to the urology department are needed for further examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
Does postpartum urinary incontinence require rest?
Necessary. During pregnancy, as the uterus enlarges, it compresses the pelvic floor. Combined with injuries to the pelvic floor during a vaginal birth, this can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction, which increases the risk of conditions like uterine prolapse, bladder prolapse, and urinary incontinence. The more childbirths a woman has, the more severe urinary incontinence may become. Postpartum urinary incontinence can be improved through adequate rest and adjunctive therapies. 1. Adequate rest by scheduling fixed times to urinate and increasing the frequency of urination can help reduce residual urine. 2. Performing Kegel exercises at home can help strengthen the sphincter muscles, helping to prevent further worsening of urinary incontinence. 3. If the above methods are ineffective, pelvic floor electrical stimulation therapy can be considered.
Vulvar itching and occasional urinary incontinence, what could be the reason?
When a woman experiences itching of the vulva and occasional urinary incontinence, it is generally considered that there is an inflammation in the vulva that has infected the urethra leading to symptoms of urinary incontinence. Because the vulva is close to the urethral opening, if there is inflammation at the vulva, it can infect the urethral opening and cause a urinary tract infection. It is advised to visit the gynecology clinic of a local formal hospital for examination. Treatment should follow the clinical doctor's guidance based on the examination results. One should not self-medicate to avoid adverse effects. During the treatment period, maintain cleanliness and dryness of the vulva, wear loose, breathable underwear, and change frequently.
Do elderly people with urinary incontinence have catheters?
Elderly people with urinary incontinence do not need a catheter. Urinary incontinence refers to the uncontrolled flow of urine from the urethra, independent of conscious control. There are many causes of urinary incontinence, but none require catheterization for urine drainage. Catheterization is only necessary when urine cannot be expelled, such as in cases of chronic urinary retention caused by an enlarged prostate, where the bladder pressure exceeds the resistance of the urethral sphincter. Other types of urinary incontinence do not require the use of a catheter for urination; instead, treatment should be based on the specific cause of the incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence: Types and Causes
Urinary incontinence is divided into urge incontinence, stress incontinence, true incontinence, and overflow incontinence. During diagnosis, it is first necessary to determine whether there is incontinence, which should be differentiated from residual urine. Then, based on medical history, physical examination, and whether or not there are laboratory tests, the clinical type and cause should be clarified. The medical history should pay attention to whether there are bladder irritative symptoms, history of urinary stone expulsion, and history of pelvic surgery. Pregnant patients should have a comprehensive examination of the pelvic organs, urinary reproductive system, and nervous system. When necessary, urinary tract X-ray imaging, ultrasound examination of pelvic organs, cystoscopy, and bladder manometry should be conducted.
What causes urinary incontinence in the elderly?
Urinary incontinence in the elderly refers to individuals over the age of 60 who experience involuntary urine leakage from the urethra, beyond their subjective control. Based on different mechanisms of onset, there are four main types: genuine urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence, and urge urinary incontinence. Persistent urinary incontinence is due to neurogenic bladder dysfunction, excessive contraction of the urinary muscles, severe damage to the urethral sphincter, and the bladder losing its storage function. This type can be seen in conditions like chronic stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and spinal disease. Stress urinary incontinence occurs due to relaxation of the urethral sphincter, pelvic floor muscles, and muscles around the urethra, leading to reduced urethral pressure. This situation is more common in elderly women and in the perineum of men, or due to urethral damage and urethral surgery. The third major category is overflow urinary incontinence, mainly seen in obstructive lower urinary tract diseases such as prostatic hyperplasia. Chronic urinary retention due to various causes results in bladder pressure exceeding the resistance of the normal urethral sphincter, causing urine to leak from the urethra. Lastly, urge urinary incontinence generally refers to overactivity of the bladder muscles, typically associated with bladder inflammation, acute urethritis, or the presence of bladder stones, bladder tumors, or obstructions at the bladder outlet, all of which can cause urge urinary incontinence.
What should I do if the skin is eroded due to urinary incontinence?
For patients suffering from urinary incontinence, it can greatly inconvenience normal work and daily life. Continuous leakage of urine can easily damage the skin around the genitals, causing the skin to ulcerate, itch, and even suppurate. In such cases, one can consider using a catheter to drain the urine, and then treat the affected skin area for infections. Topical application of iodine for disinfection may be used, and if necessary, medications such as Lotion Calamine can be applied for treatment. Usually, once the skin is no longer exposed to urine, the ulcerated skin will gradually heal over one to two weeks. However, it is also crucial to actively determine the causes of urinary incontinence and treat the underlying condition based on those causes. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)
The difference between bedwetting and urinary incontinence
Bedwetting, commonly known as wetting the bed, mainly refers to involuntary urination during sleep. Urinary incontinence, on the other hand, primarily refers to the situation where urine leaks from the urethral opening during the process of cleansing. There are many causes of urinary incontinence, and there are also various types, usually divided into stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, and true incontinence. Treatment should be based on the specific type and cause of the incontinence. For mild stress urinary incontinence, it can be improved through exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and the detrusor muscle. For moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, surgical treatment is recommended. If the urge incontinence is caused by an infection, antibiotic treatment is needed.
Will fecal incontinence heal on its own?
The causes of fecal incontinence in the anal region are primarily considered to be due to local organic lesions, or disturbances in nerve control, which can also lead to incontinence. If fecal incontinence is caused by either of these two reasons, it generally will not heal on its own. Severe diarrhea or acute intestinal infections can also cause fecal incontinence due to an increased frequency of bowel movements and acute inflammatory edema of the local intestinal mucosa. This can be alleviated by taking oral anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal medications. If the incontinence is caused by excessive relaxation of the anal sphincter, surgical treatment can be considered. If it is due to other neurogenic changes, active treatment of the primary disease is needed.