What is postpartum urinary incontinence?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on December 25, 2024
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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 Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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Where is there a specialty for urinary incontinence?

Generally speaking, urinary incontinence falls under the category of urology, though some aspects could also be seen by specialists in men's health, who can effectively treat symptoms of urinary incontinence. Generally, it is recommended that patients seek examination and treatment in public hospitals, as the treatment provided in private hospitals is often not as reliable. For patients with urinary incontinence, it is advisable to consult the urology department if visiting a hospital. The urology department primarily deals with diseases of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Typically, urinary incontinence involves issues with the urethra or bladder, which can lead to incontinence. Therefore, it is advisable for patients to visit a reputable public hospital and consult the urology department.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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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.

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Written by Chen Bao Chun
Urology
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How do I deal with painful urination followed by urinary incontinence?

Painful urination followed by urinary incontinence is considered to be due to a urinary tract infection causing urge incontinence. When this occurs, the patient needs to undergo a routine urine test to confirm that it is caused by a urinary tract infection. Initial treatment can involve oral antibiotics to address the infection. After controlling the urinary tract infection, the incontinence will be alleviated or cured. There are also other causes of painful urination and urge incontinence, such as interstitial cystitis or glandular cystitis, which are special bladder diseases. These conditions require further investigation with urinary system ultrasound or cystoscopy for a definitive diagnosis. Treatment then follows based on the specific cause, and after treating conditions like interstitial cystitis, the incontinence will be relieved or cured.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How to treat stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence primarily refers to the leakage of urine from the urethra while sneezing, coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects, which increases abdominal pressure. This condition is commonly seen in women who have given birth, mainly due to the relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles and the detrusor muscles. If the symptoms are not very severe, they can be improved through functional exercises of the pelvic floor muscles and the detrusor muscle. If the condition is moderate or severe stress urinary incontinence, surgical treatment is recommended. Mid-urethral sling procedures can be adopted to control urination.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Can elderly people with prostate enlargement experience urinary incontinence?

In the advanced stages of lower urinary tract obstructive diseases caused by prostate enlargement, overflow urinary incontinence can occur. After chronic urinary retention caused by prostate enlargement, if the bladder is extremely full, the pressure inside the bladder can exceed the resistance of the normal urethral sphincter, allowing urine to overflow through the urethra. Additionally, pressure incontinence can also be caused by damage to the external urethral sphincter or to the perineal and urethral areas following prostate surgery due to prostate enlargement.