ASK THE DOCTOR               

James Burton, M.D., board certified in urology St. Joseph's Regional Health Cent

I sometimes have uncontrollable leaking of urine during the day. Why does this happen?

Uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder is known as urinary incontinence. When the bladder is functioning normally, it does not empty without your awareness and control. Incontinence may be caused or made worse by a variety of problems such as constipation, irritation due to infection, a stone in the bladder or the use of diuretics. Symptoms of urinary incontinence include:

 

• Leakage of urine during exercise, laughing, coughing, sneezing, or lifting
• Urine leaking in frequent dribbles
• Inability to hold urine long enough to get to the toilet
• Embarrassing smell on clothes and in the house
• It becomes more common as people get older and affects as many as one in three Americans age 60 or older, most of whom are women. The most common kind of urinary incontinence in women is stress incontinence, which is caused by relaxed pelvic muscles that may have been stretched or torn during child bearing. The thinning of tissue due to a lack of estrogen can also weaken the urethral muscle.

How can I treat this problem?

Treatment for urinary incontinence can include:

• Kegel exercises to strengthen weak pelvic muscles in women. The muscles can also be tightened by surgery.
• Medication that tightens the urethral muscle, stimulates the bladder to empty, relaxes an irritable bladder or treats infection.
• Bladder training, which teaches you to empty the bladder on schedule rather than waiting until you feel the urge.
• Incontinence pads, available in all sizes and degrees of absorbency, to decrease chances or accidents.
• Surgery

Your health care provider will review your history and examine you to see if the incontinence is caused by an underlying condition that can be corrected. Your blood and urine will be checked for infection or other abnormalities. You may be referred to a urologist or gynecologist for further investigation and treatment.