What is incontinence?
Incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine or stool. Current
figures indicate that 20 million Americans suffer with involuntary loss of
bladder control (urinary incontinence) and that 10 percent of these people also
have problems with bowel control (fecal incontinence).
Often, embarrassment and the stigma associated with incontinence
prevent the person from seeking treatment, even when incontinence threatens his
or her quality of life and that of his or her family.
Urinary and fecal incontinence can be cured or significantly
improved once the underlying cause has been detected. However, it's important to
recognize that incontinence is a symptom and not a disease. Its cause may be
quite complex and involve many factors. Your physician should complete an
in-depth evaluation before beginning treatment.
What can I do to address this problem?
Getting help means taking the first step. See your doctor. Many patients can be
evaluated and treated even after a simple office visit alone. Some patients
require additional diagnostic tests Diagnostic tests for incontinence and they
can be completed in the outpatient setting and are not painful. Once these tests
have confirmed the cause of your incontinence, your physician can make specific
recommendations for treatment, many of which do not require surgery. No matter
how serious the problem seems, incontinence is a condition that can be
significantly helped and, in most cases, cured.
How can incontinence be treated?
Urinary incontinence can be caused by many different factors. Your physician
will suggest a treatment plan after considering these factors and your specific
symptoms. Common treatments for urge and stress incontinence, two common types
of incontinence, are described below.
Urge incontinence
Urge incontinence is an urgent desire to void, which is followed by an
involuntary loss of urine. This condition can be caused by an "overactive"
bladder and is commonly referred as OAB. Normally, strong muscles (sphincters)
control the flow of urine from the bladder. The muscle of an "overactive"
bladder spasms (contracts) with enough force to override the sphincter muscles
of the urethra and allow urine to pass out of the bladder.
Medications for "overactive bladder"
Medications can work very well to return normal function to the bladder. The type of medication used should also be chosen for your specific needs. Your physician may prescribe a low dose and then gradually increase the dose. In this way, he or she can evaluate the how well the drug is working and reduce
your risk of experiencing side effects. Your physician should discuss with
you the risks and benefits of using medications. Common medications used include:
Anticholinergic medications (These medications control
muscle spasms in the bladder):
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan®), oxybutynin XL (Ditropan XL®),
oxybutynin TDDS (Oxytrol®)
- Propantheline (Pro-Banthine®)
- Dicyclomine (Antispas®, Bentyl®,
Di-Spaz®, Dibent®, Or-Tyl®,
Spasmoject®)
- Tolterodine (Detrol®)
- Solifenacin (Vesicare®)
- Fesoterodine (Toviaz®)
- Darifenacin (Enablex®)
- Trospium (Sanctura XR®)
- Oxybutinin Gel (Gelnique®)
Antidepressant medication - Imipramine (Norfranil, Tipramine, Tofranil)
Self-help techniques
- Empty your bladder regularly, especially before physical activity.
- Avoid drinking caffeine or a lot of fluid before activities.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Practice Kegel exercises (explained later in this document).
- Practice timed voidings. (Go to the bathroom on a regular schedule
rather than waiting for the urge.)
Aids used with self-help techniques
- Perineometer--This device is used to measure the force of
the sphincter muscles.
- Vaginal cones (for women)--The woman inserts a
tampon-shaped cone into the vagina and holds it in place by contracting
the pelvic muscles. As the muscles get stronger, the weight of the cone
is increased.
- Electrical stimulation--Mild electrical impulses are used
to stimulate contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. Devices for
electrical stimulation can be implanted near the spine or activated by
the urethra, vagina, or rectum (non-implanted devices). Electrical
stimulation can be used for incontinence that does or does not involve
neurological problems.
- Biofeedback--In biofeedback, devices are used to help you
see the strength of your contractions. Biofeedback can help you learn
how to perform Kegel exercises.
Surgery
Your physician may recommend surgery if other treatments fail to
improve your symptoms .of overactive bladder. Surgical procedures for urge
incontinence can be used to:
- Increase the storage capacity of the bladder (hydro-distention)
- Limit nerve impulses to the control muscles (denervation) with use of
off label botulinum toxin injections into the bladder
- Divert the flow of urine
- Modulate the nerves to bladder/penis (neuromodulation) as outpatient
therapy that is quite effective and minimally invasive
Stress incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when an activity, such as a cough or sneeze,
increases abdominal pressure on the bladder. Typically, a small amount of urine
leaks from the urethra. This problem can result from a number of factors,
including weak muscles of the pelvic floor, a weak sphincter muscle at the neck
of the bladder, or a problem with the way the sphincter muscle opens and closes.
Women who have given birth are more likely to have stress incontinence.
Treatments for stress incontinence
Self-help techniques and aids, as described above, can be used to treat mild stress incontinence.
Bulking agents
Bulking agents are substances that are injected into the lining of the urethra. They increase the size of the lining of the urethra, which creates
resistance against the flow of urine. Collagen is one bulking agent commonly
used.
Surgery
When these methods fail, surgery may be an option and is highly effective
and durable. Surgery is now minimally invasive and performed on an
outpatient basis in most cases without the need for a catheter after
surgery. Surgery can be used to:
- Increase resistance in the urethra
- Implant an artificial sphincter
- Tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Change pressure within the urethra using an implant device
- Minimize leakage with exercise and activity
- Allow one to resume most normal activities within a couple weeks after surgery
- Allow for a long lasting result
- Selectively help in patients with both overactive bladder and stress
incontinence combined (mixed incontinence)
Kegel exercises
Kegel exercises, also called pelvic floor exercises, help strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and bowels. By strengthening these muscles,
you can reduce or prevent problems such as leaking urine.
How to do Kegel exercises
Imagine you are trying to stop the flow of urine or trying not to pass gas. When
you do this, you are contracting the muscles of the pelvic floor and are
practicing Kegel exercises. While doing Kegel exercises, try not to move your
leg, buttock or abdominal muscles. In fact, no one should be able to tell that
you are doing Kegel exercises.
How often should I do Kegel exercises?
Kegel exercises should be done every day. We recommend doing five sets of Kegel
exercises a day. Each time you contract the muscles of the pelvic floor, hold
for a slow count of five and then relax. Repeat this ten times for one set of Kegels.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 7/27/2009…#6275
