If women do not hold urine, and there is no treatment, then this symptom negatively affects almost all areas of life, significantly complicating professional activities, severely limiting communication, and also introducing disharmony into relationships. Such a problem in the field of medicine is considered by urology, neurology, and also gynecology. This is due to the fact that urinary incontinence is not considered an independent disease, but only a manifestation of various pathologies of the female body.
Many believe that urinary incontinence occurs only in women over 50 years of age. However, this is an erroneous assertion. Such an ailment can manifest itself at absolutely any age. Urinary incontinence often occurs in women over 30 years of age who have 2-3 children. By herselfthe problem itself does not pose a particular danger to the woman's body, but it is capable of morally suppressing, greatly reducing the patient's quality of life. In this article, we will take a closer look at why urine does not hold in women, the treatment of this ailment. However, first you need to understand the types of urinary incontinence.
Classification of incontinence
In the field of medicine, it is customary to distinguish between several types of urinary incontinence in the fair sex. These varieties include the following:
- Imperative. Incontinence in the fair sex can act as a result of improper functioning of the peripheral and central nervous system. In addition, these symptoms occur when the innervation of the bladder is disturbed. In this case, the patient is disturbed by frequent and strong urge to urinate. A woman may suffer from too frequent urination during the day up to 8 times, and also at night more than once. This type of violation is called imperative. It is observed in the case of overactive bladder syndrome.
- Stress incontinence. Such incontinence is associated with a sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure, which occurs due to the lifting of too heavy objects, due to laughter or coughing. In most cases, doctors have to deal with such incontinence in the fair sex. Pelvic organ prolapse and muscle weakness have also been linked to low collagen levels that are common during menopause. Statisticssuggests that about 40% of patients have experienced stress urinary incontinence at least once in their lives.
- Mixed. In most cases, stress and imperative urinary incontinence are combined. This phenomenon is more often observed in women after childbirth, and traumatic damage to muscles and tissues on the pelvic organs leads to involuntary urination. This form is characterized by a combination of a frequent irresistible desire to go to the toilet with uncontrolled leakage of fluid during exercise. This disorder in women needs a two-pronged approach to treatment.
- Enuresis. This form is characterized by involuntary release of fluid at absolutely any time of the day. If urinary incontinence is observed precisely at night, then in this case we will talk about nocturnal enuresis.
- Urgent incontinence. This type is also characterized by involuntary release of fluid, but this is preceded by an irresistible and sudden urge. If a woman feels such urges, then she is no longer able to stop urination, so often patients do not have time to run to the toilet.
- Permanent incontinence. It is associated with the pathology of the urinary tract, sphincter failure, as well as with an anomaly in the structure of the ureter organ.
- Digging. As a rule, after urination, there is a slight release of fluid that accumulates in the urethra of a woman.
The most common types of incontinence are urgency and stress incontinence. Other forms are very rare in practice.
Be sure to see a doctor if a woman is not holding urine. Treatment will be carried out depending on the main cause of this symptom. What is it?
Causes of incontinence
So, we continue to consider why women do not hold urine, the treatment of this disease. In the fair sex, including those over 50 years old, the causes of incontinence may be different. However, this pathology is most often observed in those patients who gave birth. In this situation, a large percentage of victims is noted among those patients who had rapid or prolonged labor, if they were accompanied by a rupture of the pelvic floor or other birth injuries.
As a rule, urinary incontinence occurs due to weakening of the muscles in the pelvic floor or in the small pelvis. In addition, a similar symptom appears due to disturbances in the work of the urethral sphincter. Such problems can be triggered by the following conditions and diseases:
- Obesity, overweight.
- Childbirth and childbearing.
- The advanced age of a woman.
- Abnormal structure of the genitourinary system.
- Bladder stones.
- Chronic bladder infections.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Chronic cough.
- Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
- Sclerosis.
- Stroke.
- Oncological diseases of the bladder.
- Pelvic organ prolapse.
In addition, increase the symptoms of incontinenceurine can be in the case of the use of certain medicines, as well as products, for example, carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, tea. Please note that if women do not hold urine, it may be due to smoking, drugs that relax the muscles of the bladder, and drugs that increase urine production.
Diagnostics
Before treating urinary incontinence, a specialist must conduct diagnostic tests without fail. It is with the help of diagnostics that it is determined why a woman does not hold urine. This is especially true when it comes to patients over the age of 50 years. For the correct selection of therapy tactics, a special research protocol is drawn up:
- Filling out a specific questionnaire.
- Hourly or daily pad test.
- Making a urinary diary.
- Vaginal examination and cough test.
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and small pelvis.
- Urodynamic Comprehensive Study.
Features of treatment
So, above we figured out why women do not keep urine, what diseases this symptom can accompany. With regard to therapy, it will depend on the underlying cause of the patient's urinary incontinence, as well as on the woman's personal preferences. If a woman's urine is not holding, treatment will also differ depending on the type of incontinence. When a specialist diagnoses the underlying cause, therapy caninclude exercises that help control the bladder, medication, or a combination of both.
How else can therapy be carried out if a woman's urine does not hold? Treatment with tablets in some cases may be ineffective. In such situations, surgery is prescribed.
What else can be said about why women do not hold urine, about the treatment of this problem? As a rule, experts recommend controlling urination by the following methods:
- A diet that eliminates coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, cola and chocolate from your diet.
- In parallel with this, a woman must control body weight, fight obesity, if any.
- You will have to give up smoking, as well as drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Experts also recommend emptying your bladder by the clock and not pushing yourself.
When a specialist determines why women do not hold urine, he can prescribe medication treatment. However, this method is relevant for young patients who have mild symptoms of urinary incontinence. The same therapy is prescribed for those women who have this problem after childbirth, as well as those who have already undergone surgery, but without a positive effect.
If urge incontinence has been diagnosed, then this type is treated only conservatively. Treatment is usuallybegins with the implementation of special exercises that are aimed at strengthening the muscles. Such gymnastics can have a stimulating effect on the abdominal muscles and pelvic organs.
Medicines
Depending on the reason why a woman is not holding urine, treatment with the following medications may also be prescribed:
- Sympathomimetics. "Ephedrine" will help reduce the muscles that are involved in urination. As a result, the enuresis stops in the woman.
- Anticholinergics. These include "Tolterodin", "Driptan", "Oxybutin". These drugs make it possible to relax the bladder, and also increase its volume. These medications for urinary incontinence are prescribed specifically to restore control of the urge to void.
- "Desmopressin" is able to reduce the amount of fluid produced. Such a remedy is prescribed in case of temporary incontinence in a woman.
- Antidepressants like Imipramine, Duloxetine. These funds are prescribed in the event that a woman’s urine does not hold well due to stress.
- Estrogens. These drugs are presented in the form of female hormones with estrogen or progesterone in the composition. Such drugs are prescribed if incontinence occurs due to a lack of female hormones in the blood. If the answer to the question of why urine does not hold in older women lies in the menopause, then expertsestrogens are prescribed.
As you can see, incontinence can be controlled with medication. However, in most cases, therapy is based on changing behavioral factors, which is why special exercises are often prescribed, for example, the Kegel exercises known today. Such procedures in combination with drugs can help many patients.
Kegel Exercises
If women do not keep urine well, what should I do? These exercises are effective. Such gymnastics can be used for any type of incontinence. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the pelvis and abdomen. During the exercises, a woman should tense her pelvic muscles 3 times a day for 3 seconds. The effect of using a pessary, that is, special rubber intravaginal devices, will largely depend on the type of incontinence, as well as the individual characteristics of the woman's body.
It is necessary to compress the muscles in the perineum, holding the contraction for 3 seconds, and then relax them for the same time. Gradually, the duration increases to 20 seconds. Relax gradually.
Folk remedies
Above we looked at drugs for urinary incontinence in women. However, many experts in combination with drug therapy recommend using traditional medicine recipes. Consider the most effective home formulations.
Dill Seeds
To prepare a remedy, you need to takeone tablespoon of dill seeds, pour them with a glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, wrap with a towel. After that, the infusion is filtered. A glass of funds is drunk at a time. This must be done every day until the result of therapy appears. Traditional healers say that this method can also treat urinary incontinence in women of absolutely any age. There have been cases of complete recovery from incontinence thanks to dill seeds.
Sage
Very effective in the fight against incontinence is the herb sage. To do this, you need to make an infusion. One tablespoon of sage herb is poured with one glass of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour. After that, the drug is used inside. It is necessary to drink such a medicine 3 times a day, one glass each.
Yarrow
This grass can be found everywhere. If you want to get rid of incontinence, then you need to take 10 g of this plant with flowers. Raw materials are poured with one glass of water, boiled for 10 minutes over low heat. After that, the composition should cool down, insisting for 1 hour. During infusion, wrap the container with the infusion with a warm towel. A healing agent is used 3 times a day for half a glass.
Operation
If folk remedies, gymnastics, and medications do not help, then the specialist prescribes an operation for urinary incontinence in women. There are several types of surgical intervention, thanks to which you can fix the problem:
- Slingoperation. This intervention is minimally invasive, lasts for 30 minutes. It is carried out under local anesthesia. At the same time, the essence of the operation is extremely simple: a special synthetic mesh in the form of a loop is inserted under the neck of the bladder or urethra. This loop holds the urethra in position, preventing urine from flowing out in case of increased intra-abdominal pressure.
- Laparoscopic colposuspension. This surgery is performed by doctors under general anesthesia. Tissues that are located near the urethra are suspended to prevent spontaneous leakage.
- Injection of bulking agents. During the procedure, a special substance is injected under the mucous membrane of the urethra. In most cases, it is a synthetic material that does not cause an allergic reaction. As a result, the urethra is fixed in the required position.
Any surgical intervention for incontinence is aimed at resuming the natural position of the organs of the urinary system. The decision to have such a procedure should be based on a correct diagnosis.