Incontinence is when you have an inability to control your bladder, leading to involuntary leakage of urine. It can happen when you are laughing, sneezing, or coughing, or if you become startled or surprised. The condition can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable, and troubling if you consider hygiene. Incontinence is real, and it affects many women.
The good news is, there are treatments available that can help you manage incontinence. There are two methods used in the treatment of women with incontinence: Kegel exercises and surgery. Below, we will talk about how exactly they treat the problem.
Kegel Exercises for Female Incontinence
Kegel exercises involve repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles of the pelvic floor in order to build strength. A strong pelvic floor helps support your bladder and other organs, which can reduce the problem of urine leakage. The feeling you get when you try to prevent urine mid-stream – those are your pelvic floor muscles at work.
Weak pelvic floor muscles can be the result of pregnancy, childbirth, aging, or surgery. Doing Kegel exercises have proven to be very effective in preventing and controlling incontinence symptoms. Kegel exercises for female incontinence are very easy to do at home. These exercises require no special equipment, however, they must be done regularly in order to achieve positive results.
To do Kegel exercises, mimic the contractions you do when you are trying to stop the release of urine. Picture yourself picking up and lifting something with your pelvic floor muscles, alternately tightening and loosening the muscles. Three sets of 15 repetitions a day are enough for it to be beneficial.
Surgery for Female Incontinence
Surgery is another option for treating female incontinence, however, being invasive, it does carry risks. Surgery to treat female incontinence typically involves the placement of a sling to support the urethra, which is the duct that carries urine out of the bladder, or the lifting of the tissues that surround the urethra to minimize pressure and reduce the risk of urine leakage. Surgery does not always guarantee success. In some cases, symptoms may return, which is why you should weigh the benefits against the risks of surgery.
Incontinence is not something that you should just live with. While common, it should not be readily accepted, especially since there are different ways to manage it. You should pick a medical provider whom you trust for the guided treatment of female incontinence.
Treatment for Female Incontinence in Arizona and Washington
At Show Low Family Clinic, we want you to find a treatment that works for you. Family Nurse Practitioner Sharon Zell is committed to the improvement of your symptoms and wants to help you return to a life you love. Treating female incontinence is something we are highly experienced in.
For any questions or to schedule an appointment with Sharon, call us today at (928) 251-2914 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to bringing you the best and most convenient treatments in women’s healthcare.