Will urinary incontinence heal itself after a vaginal delivery?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 14, 2024
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During natural childbirth, because it can damage pelvic floor function, causing issues such as bladder prolapse, uterine prolapse, and a series of other pelvic floor dysfunctions, some women may experience urinary incontinence after giving birth. If urinary incontinence occurs after natural childbirth, it suggests that the damage to the pelvic floor functions is quite severe, and these conditions generally cannot heal on their own. First, a pelvic floor function test should be conducted to assess the condition of the pelvic floor. If the damage to the pelvic floor is minor, it can be improved through machine-assisted treatment and performing Kegel exercises, which also help enhance pelvic floor functions. If the evaluation reveals severe prolapse, pelvic floor reconstructive surgery is required to suture the prolapsed bladder or uterus back into place, which can improve urinary incontinence. Therefore, urinary incontinence after natural childbirth generally does not heal on its own.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What is postpartum urinary incontinence?

Many women experience urinary incontinence after childbirth, and the severity varies from person to person. The causes of postpartum urinary incontinence include the following aspects. First, during pregnancy, the enlargement of the uterus can significantly press on the female pelvic floor, causing damage to pelvic floor function. Second, for women who have a vaginal delivery, the fetus needs to pass through the vagina. This process can further exacerbate damage to the female pelvic floor. These factors together can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction, resulting in conditions like uterine prolapse, bladder prolapse, and even urinary incontinence. For postpartum urinary incontinence, interventions such as Kegel exercises and electrical stimulation therapy should be used together to alleviate clinical symptoms and minimize impact on daily life. If conservative treatments are ineffective, pelvic floor repair surgery should be considered.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence mainly refers to the uncontrolled flow of urine from the urethral opening. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, tension incontinence, and neurogenic incontinence. Stress incontinence, commonly seen in women who have given birth, mainly refers to the leakage of urine from the urethral opening during actions that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, jumping rope, or sneezing. Urge incontinence is commonly seen in acute cases of bladder inflammation, where the inflammation stimulates the bladder, causing the patient to have a strong urge to urinate, thus losing control over urination, with urine flowing out from the urethral opening. Neurogenic incontinence is due to nerve damage, such as after spinal injury, leading to loss of bladder and urinary muscle function, causing urine to continuously flow out from the urethral opening.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What to do about urinary incontinence in dementia in the elderly?

Dementia in the elderly is a degenerative neurological disease, and there are currently no particularly effective treatments. In the later stages, it is very common for the elderly to experience urinary incontinence. This is mainly because in the later stages, the autonomic nervous system is affected. Damage to the autonomic nerves leads to dysfunction of the sphincter muscles, resulting in urinary incontinence. Currently, there are no particularly good treatments for urinary incontinence caused by dementia, but some common methods are as follows. First, it is important to kindly remind and encourage the elderly to go to the bathroom frequently, asking every one to two hours whether they feel the need to urinate, which can help avoid urinary incontinence. Second, bathrooms must have conspicuous signs that are prominently placed to help the elderly locate the restrooms easily. Third, when necessary, the elderly can be given diapers to wear to avoid embarrassment from wetting their pants. Also, it's crucial to provide psychological comfort to the elderly and avoid causing them excessive psychological burden. Additionally, other causes must be ruled out. If there is a urinary tract infection or some other urinary system disease causing the incontinence, treatment of the primary disease should be undertaken.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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Can you wear diapers for urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence generally requires the use of diapers, as the condition is primarily caused by various pathological changes, leading to the involuntary discharge of urine from the urethra. Due to the easy infiltration of the perineum and around the urethral opening by urine, there might be occurrences of eczema or perineal infections. Wearing diapers can timely absorb the leaked urine, thereby reducing the chances of developing eczema and perineal infections. It is also necessary to actively seek the underlying cause of urinary incontinence and treat it accordingly. Common types of urinary incontinence include persistent, stress-related, overflow, and urge incontinence. By conducting thorough examinations, the specific type of urinary incontinence can be identified, followed by targeted treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can fecal incontinence be recovered?

If fecal incontinence occurs, the first step is to identify the main cause of the fecal incontinence. If it is caused by relaxation of the anal sphincter and anal canal, then surgery can be performed to tighten this area, specifically through an anal tightening procedure, which can restore control over fecal incontinence. If the patient has other underlying diseases or is elderly and frail, accompanied by changes in the nervous system, the symptoms of fecal incontinence may be alleviated through medication or physical therapy, but complete recovery is unlikely. This is because the recovery of the nervous system requires the integrated regulation of other bodily organs and functions. If there are multiple underlying diseases or if the patient is elderly and frail, especially in the later stages of coma, recovery is difficult.