Symptoms of urinary incontinence in women

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on May 21, 2025
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Urinary incontinence primarily refers to the uncontrolled leakage of urine from the urethra. In female patients, stress incontinence and urge incontinence are more common. Urge incontinence is often seen in acute cystitis. In such cases, there are evident symptoms of urinary urgency, and severe cases can lead to incontinence. Stress incontinence, on the other hand, is more common among women who have given birth. It mainly occurs when coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, laughing, or any other action that increases abdominal pressure, causing urine to leak from the urethra. Mild stress incontinence can be improved through exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and the detrusor muscle. For moderate to severe stress incontinence, it is recommended to consider surgical treatment as soon as possible.

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What is urinary incontinence in the elderly?

For elderly people with urinary incontinence, such as elderly men, the main cause is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Due to the enlargement of the prostate, there is an obstruction at the bladder outlet, which increases the resistance during urination. Urine is not completely expelled and accumulates in large amounts within the bladder. When the pressure reaches a certain level, urinary incontinence occurs. For female patients, the main cause is usually an acute urinary system infection, resulting in localized infections that stimulate the bladder's detrusor muscle, causing it to contract involuntarily and, consequently, leading to urinary incontinence.

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How is fecal incontinence treated with Chinese medicine?

How is bowel incontinence treated with Chinese medicine? Bowel incontinence, also known as anal incontinence, refers to the inability to voluntarily control bowel movements or gas due to various reasons, leading to autonomous control issues at the anus. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), treatment is divided into herbal medicine therapies and non-medicinal treatments. Herbal medicine treatment can be classified into several types, primarily the Qi Deficiency and Sinking type and the Spleen and Kidney Deficiency type. Each type utilizes different herbs. The Qi Deficiency and Sinking type, characterized by inability to control bowel movement and gas, anal prolapse, fatigue, poor appetite, a thin white tongue coating, and a fine pulse, is typically treated with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang. The Spleen and Kidney Deficiency type, which includes symptoms such as difficulty in controlling bowel and gas, sensation of dullness, dizziness, tinnitus, sore waist and knees, a thin white tongue coating, and a weak and fine pulse, is mainly treated with Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, with an added dose of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, indicating a somewhat more severe condition compared to the Qi Deficiency and Sinking type. Medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.

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Written by Zhang Lu
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Will urinary incontinence heal itself after a vaginal delivery?

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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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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What department should I go to for fecal incontinence?

"Fecal incontinence requires registration at a colorectal surgery department for consultation. The causes of fecal incontinence mainly include neurogenic and local organic lesions of the anus. If it is due to neurogenic reasons, then it is necessary to coordinate with a neurology department to examine whether the local contraction function of the anus has deteriorated, leading to relaxation of the anal sphincter or incontinence during defecation. If there is an organic lesion in the anal sphincter, especially when the tightness of the sphincter increases leading to excessive relaxation of the anal sphincter, this can also cause fecal incontinence. To treat fecal incontinence, one can opt for local surgery to tighten the relaxed anal sphincter, thereby preventing feces from involuntarily leaking out of the anus."