Incontinence: Taking Charge of a Common Problem

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — If you think you are the only one who experiences involuntary urine loss, think again. It's one of the most common problems, particularly in the menopausal years. Overall, it's twice as common in women as in men.

Incontinence has various types, but those that affect women most often are:

Stress incontinence, where urine leaks when you sneeze, laugh, cough or perform a vigorous activity. Urge incontinence, where leakage is preceded by a sudden, intense urge to urinate.

Regardless of the type, incontinence is not something you have to endure. To start, specific exercises and diet changes may help. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource outlines possible strategies and treatments including:

Pelvic floor muscle exercises: Called Kegels, this exercise strengthens your urinary sphincter and pelvic muscles. A physical therapist, nurse or doctor can teach you proper techniques.

Bladder training: This therapy involves gradually lengthening the time interval between bathroom visits until you're able to "hold it" for longer periods.

Fluid and diet management: Avoiding caffeine, carbonated beverages, citrus products and foods containing high concentrations of vitamin C may improve your bladder control. Extra weight can place pressure on your bladder, so weight loss also may help.

Medical devices: Devices don't cure incontinence, but they can help manage it. Options include a small, tampon-like device inserted temporarily into the urethra to prevent leakage, for example during sports. Another option for some types of incontinence is a pessary, a device inserted into the vagina. It's worn all day and supports the bladder.

When these approaches don't help, medication and surgery are options.

If incontinence is interfering with your daily activities, talk to your doctor. The best treatment approach will depend on the type of incontinence you have.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers, and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has campuses in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.; and community-based providers in more than 70 locations in southern Minnesota., western Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your health stories.