Why do Women have Urinary Incontinence?
Women with Urinary Incontinence
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Millions of women experience Urinary Incontinence. The involuntary leakage of urine can feel embarrassing, bothersome, or totally debilitating. Some women just dribble a little while they sneeze or laugh, but other women have more serious cases. In serious cases, the urge to urinate is strong and can come on suddenly. These symptoms can keep women from enjoying normal activities. Going out in public with friends and family and enjoying sexual activity can lose its allure. But if you recognize the symptoms you can seek a doctor and find treatment. This will allow you to live a normal lifestyle.
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Urinary Incontinence is found twice as much in women than it is in men. This is because pregnancy, childbirth and menopause can seriously affect the female urinary tract. These events in a woman’s life can injure the muscular structure that supports the bladder. Pelvic floor muscles, the vagina, and other ligaments support your bladder. Pregnancy and childbirth can put pressure on these support systems. When urinating, the muscles in the wall of your bladder contract. This forces urine out of the bladder and through the urethra. The urinary sphincter relaxes and lets the urine pass through the body. Urinary Incontinence occurs when your bladder muscles suddenly contract or the urinary sphincter is not strong enough to hold in the urine.
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Difference in pressure on this system can affect the urinary tract. Obesity can cause Urinary Incontinence because of the increased abdominal pressure, and worsen UI. This is why pregnancy also can create Urinary Incontinence, because of the immense abdominal pressure on the bladder. While UI is common with pregnancy and obesity, it is not uncommon to see your Urinary Incontinence diminish after weight loss, and childbirth.
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During menopause, levels of estrogen drop significantly. Estrogen healthily maintains the bladder and the urethra which is what carries urine out of the body. Estrogen is also lowered during your menstrual period. This is why you may experience Urinary Incontinence along with your cramps.
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With these weakened facilities, your bladder can be pushed downward toward the vagina. This prevents the sphcincter and other muscles from contracting and keeping your body from urinating involuntarily. As a result, you may experience leakage during moments of stress. Moment of stress on the abdomen include laughing, sneezing, and coughing. This is what makes Stress Urinary Incontinence the most common form of Urinary Incontinence in women.
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Overactive Bladder is also another common form of Urinary Incontinence found in women. Overactive Bladder happens when defective nerves inaccurate signals to the bladder, causing its muscles to suddenly squeeze. This could happen several times throughout the day, causing women to frequently urinate. This can happen when there is a significant amount of urine in the bladder, or none at all. Overactive Bladder can be caused by childbirth or pregnancy because sometimes these nerves are damaged during these experiences.
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But urinary incontinence can be found in both men and women for a number of different reasons including stroke, neurologic injury, multiple slcerosis, birth defects, and any physical problems that come with aging.
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Urinary Incontinence is not inevitable with age though. While it is true that older women experience bladder leakage more often than younger women, it is because of many health issues that are associated with older age, like arthritis. At any age it is a medical problem that should be discussed with physician.
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By speaking with a specialist you can find a treatment that works. Sometimes women with Urinary Incontinence need a combination of treatments, like kegels and disposable underwear. Lots of women with Stress Urinary Incontinence just need to lay down a light pad in their underwear. You can hold in your choice of adult diaper securely with a pull-on the provides extra absorption and supports the abdomen. If you seek a non-invasive treatment, disposable underwear is a great alternative. Surgery is not always necessary.