Urinary incontinence in women after 50: causes and treatment

It is believed that from 15 to 50% of women older than 50 years faced with involuntary urination in one form or another. Such inaccuracy in the figures is due to the fact that ladies are often shy to address a delicate problem to the doctor.

This approach is fundamentally wrong – incontinence significantly affects quality of life, cause emotional discomfort and gives a lot of inconvenience. Meanwhile, only a third of women, the disease becomes chronic haractor, in other cases it is quite easy to treat – just need time to act.

The cause of the problem:

  • Decrease in elasticity of ligaments and muscle tone
  • Deficit of estrogen
  • Stress
  • Incorrect work of the muscles in the urethra
  • Pregnancy and natural childbirth, especially numerous
  • Various illnesses and injuries
  • Overweight
  • Hormonal disruption during menopause

To aggravate the situation can certain foods, beverages and drugs as well as alcohol and cigarettes. Knowing the most common causes of the disease, we can predict and prevent incontinence by merely adjusting the way of life: starting to stick to the correct diet and abandoning harmful habits. If the problem has occurred, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Prevention

Only 6 simple tips will help to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence (and many other diseases) to a minimum:

  • Not to self-medicate, take drugs only on prescription
  • To perform Kegel exercises
  • To control weight and eat right
  • Do not run disease of the genitourinary system
  • Lead an active lifestyle and play sports
  • Regularly visit the gynecologist

Conservative methods of treatment

A healthy lifestyle is very effective when dealing with female incontinence. First of all, excludes products, irritating the mucous membrane of the bladder:

  • Tomato
  • Vinegar
  • Soda
  • Lemons and oranges
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Alcohol


To get rid of the disease also help Kegel exercises that you want to perform daily. Training invisible to others, so it can be done anytime and anywhere. Exercises consist of three techniques:

  • slow compression and relaxation of the pelvic muscles;
  • quick reduction.
  • simulation of the ejection of the fetus.

Can be used the so-called behavioral therapy – the point is that the toilet need to go on a specific schedule with increasing intervals. Gradually, the intervals are brought to the maximum possible (3-4 hours), allowing you to regain full control over the process of urination. To restore the normal functioning of the bladder is also assigned drug therapy.

Sometimes the illness forced to give up their traditional way of life: for example, to delete the run. For these cases, there is a device like a pessary. It is inserted into the vagina and create the desired pressure on the pelvic organs, keeping them in an anatomically correct position. However, a pessary can not be used continuously, it is rather a means of emergency assistance.

Surgery


In severe cases, when conservative methods of treatment fail, surgical intervention. Such operations have many varieties, depending on the type and causes of incontinence. The safest and most popular is the loopback operation during which the urethra is injected the loop to maintain the organs in the desired position. The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia and usually lasting less than half an hour. When the surgery is performed correctly, the symptoms of urinary incontinence disappear completely.

In conclusion

With whatever disease you might have, the main thing – in time to see a doctor. Believe, incontinence is not shameful, but rather a very common problem which will not confuse and will not surprise any doctor.