How to treat stress urinary incontinence?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on November 22, 2024
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Stress urinary incontinence is commonly seen in women who have given birth, with the likelihood of occurring increasing with the number of childbirths. It primarily manifests as urine leakage through the urethral opening when there is an increase in abdominal pressure from coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects. For mild urinary incontinence, improvement can be achieved through pelvic floor and urinary sphincter muscle exercises. For moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, it is recommended to seek surgical treatment early. This can involve mid-urethral sling procedures to control urination. Post-surgery, it is also necessary to minimize situations that suddenly increase intra-abdominal pressure.

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What causes postpartum urinary incontinence?

Postpartum urinary incontinence in women often occurs after vaginal delivery. Clinically, postpartum urinary incontinence is relatively common and is mostly due to the stretching or injury of certain muscle groups in the pelvic floor as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can also occur due to surgical intervention affecting the nerves and blood vessels that support the pelvic floor, leading to relaxation or atrophy of the levator ani muscle. Postpartum urinary incontinence typically occurs about a week after delivery, and timely treatment is necessary. During the treatment period, bed rest is advised, which can alleviate some of the discomforts and possibly avoid the need for surgery.

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How much water should a patient with urinary incontinence drink each day?

Patients with urinary incontinence generally need a daily water intake of about 1000 to 2000 milliliters. Although those suffering from urinary incontinence may involuntarily excrete urine from the urethra, their water intake needs to be the same as that of normal individuals. Drinking more water is beneficial for the body, as it increases urine production, which can dilute the concentration of stone-forming substances in the urine, thus reducing the likelihood of developing urinary stones. Increased urine production due to higher water intake can promptly flush the urinary tract, especially washing away bacteria on the urethra, thereby reducing the chances of urinary tract infections. Furthermore, drinking more water increases urine production and promptly excretes metabolic waste products produced in the body through the urine, thus preventing the accumulation of metabolic products.

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Can spinal inflammation urinary incontinence be cured?

Patients with myelitis often experience urinary incontinence because the condition affects the function of the autonomic nerves, which primarily govern the control of urination and defecation. Symptoms may include urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or urinary retention. To treat urinary incontinence, it is first necessary to treat acute myelitis. Treatment must be timely, involving the administration of corticosteroids to suppress the inflammatory response and promote recovery from myelitis. Additionally, B vitamins should be administered to nourish the nerves and accelerate nerve repair. Moreover, adjunctive rehabilitation therapy is also crucial. For urinary incontinence, rehabilitation physicians may offer interventions such as acupuncture and training for the bladder sphincter muscle function. Most patients have a relatively good prognosis after treatment and can be cured.

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Urinary incontinence pelvic floor muscle exercise method

If you want to improve urinary incontinence through pelvic floor muscle exercises, this method is mainly suitable for mild stress urinary incontinence and is not applicable to all types of urinary incontinence. Therefore, if you want to improve urinary incontinence through pelvic floor muscle exercises, you first need to determine if it is mild stress urinary incontinence before proceeding. Usually, we choose to do anal lift exercises to improve this. The specific exercise method for anal lift exercises is to take a deep breath, lift the anus, hold for about five seconds, then relax, and continuously practice 15 times. Perform 15 times per set, about 20 sets a day, and it needs to be maintained for more than half a year to be effective.

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Can you have intercourse with postpartum urinary incontinence?

Postpartum urinary incontinence should preclude sexual intercourse, as intercourse can exacerbate the condition. It is necessary to wait until recovery is achieved before resuming sexual activities. It is advised that patients promptly seek hospital treatment for pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, which can generally bring effective relief within six months. If recovery begins after more than six months, the results can be poor. It is also important to develop good living habits, ensuring adequate sleep, avoiding fatigue, and refraining from heavy physical labor. Proper bowel movements should be maintained to prevent constipation, which can increase abdominal pressure and worsen urinary incontinence.