What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is caused by loss of bladder control that leads to the unexpected and certainly unwanted loss of urine.
There are several types of incontinence, which include:
- Stress incontinence, which causes urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, lift something heavy, or otherwise put pressure on your bladder
- Urge incontinence, which is related to a sudden, intense urge to urinate that’s followed by an involuntary loss of urine that often happens too quickly to make it to the bathroom
- Overflow incontinence, which can cause frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to incomplete emptying of your bladder
What causes loss of bladder control and urinary incontinence?
There are many potential causes for loss of bladder control and the resulting urinary incontinence. Sometimes foods and beverages you consume may be to blame for stimulating your bladder and increasing your urine output. These foods and beverages may include:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Citrus fruits
Urinary incontinence may also be related to:
- Obesity, which puts extra pressure on your bladder and surrounding organs
- Hormonal changes related to menopause
- Constipation
- A urinary tract infection (UTI)
- An enlarged prostate
Your gender may affect the type of urinary incontinence you develop. Women, for instance, are more likely to develop stress incontinence that’s often related to pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Men are more likely to develop urge or overflow incontinence related to prostate gland issues.
How can you tell what is causing my urinary incontinence?
Dr. El-Masry may recommend several investigative studies to identify the cause of your loss of bladder control and incontinence, such as:
- Cystoscopy to examine the lining of your bladder and urethra
- Voiding pressure study to measure your urine flow rate and the pressure in your bladder as you urinate
- Cystometrogram (CMG) to measure how much urine your bladder can hold and how full it is before you feel the urge to urinate
Once Dr. El-Masry identifies what’s causing your loss of bladder control, he develops a treatment plan that’s tailored for your situation.
Regardless of what type of urinary incontinence you’re struggling with, Dr. El-Masry can help. Call Advanced Urology today for an appointment or book your visit online.
