Millions of women experience bladder control problems, called urinary incontinence. Many are too embarrassed to talk to anyone about the problem—even with their doctor — so they simply live with it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Bladder control problems are treatable and in most cases can be taken care of with low risk, cost effective rehabilitation techniques, medications or surgery.
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. Some women may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing. Others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Incontinence is not a natural part of aging. It can happen at any age, and can be caused by a wide range of factors, many of them temporary.
There are several types of incontinence, each with distinct symptoms.
No single treatment works for everyone. Talking with your health care provider about your bladder control problem is the first step. If need be, he or she can refer you to a specialist such as an urologist, gynecologist or physical medicine physician. Once the cause of your incontinence is known, a personalized treatment plan can be developed based on your needs. Don’t let embarrassment stand in your way, call your health care provider today.