The inability to control your bladder is embarrassing – there are several medications that are designed to help treat the problem. But urinary incontinence could be a symptom of an underlying issue that’s more serious.
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine, and the inability to control bladder leakage. It may be a bladder condition that causes it to occur.
Bladder muscles that are overactive, weak, or damaged may be at the root of the problem. Men who experience urinary incontinence may actually have a prostate issue and should be screened for prostate health. Nerve damage can also be an underlying cause.
Those are just a few of the common reasons behind urinary incontinence. A urologist can evaluate your condition, take a health history (including your own past health issues and those of your close relatives), and diagnose the condition that’s causing your incontinence.
The physician will then prepare a treatment plan for you to follow in order to help the situation. The treatment plan may include medication, exercises, and other recommendations.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
There are a number of different types of urinary incontinence, and below we look at some of the most common types:
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks as a result of extra pressure – or physical stress – on the bladder. A cough, sneeze, or laugh might trigger a urine leak. Outside pressure from lifting something that is heavy or exercising may also trigger urine to be released.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence comes on suddenly. An intense urge to urinate will occur, and the person will be unable to hold in the urine – so it passes involuntarily.
The cause of urge incontinence could be as simple as an infection, but a more serious condition could also be at play. Diabetes might cause urge incontinence, or a person with a nerve disorder may experience this type of incontinence.
Functional Incontinence
If you’re unable to get to the bathroom before losing urine, you might suffer from functional incontinence. In this case, the underlying condition is unrelated to the bladder. It could be a mental or physical impairment.
Overflow Incontinence
If your bladder doesn’t empty entirely when you go to the bathroom, then you might have overflow incontinence. This is characterized by a constant drip of urine as the bladder continues to attempt to empty itself.
Mixed Incontinence
As the name implies, mixed incontinence is a combination of the various types of incontinence. Different types of incontinence can have different remedies, and a doctor can help give you the proper treatment.
Arizona Urology
Some people attempt to deal with urinary incontinence by wearing adult diapers rather than seeing a doctor. However, there is always an underlying cause for incontinence.
Try not to allow shame or embarrassment hinder you from speaking to a doctor about it. Urinary incontinence is a medical condition, and like any other medical condition, it should be addressed.
Discussing incontinence may cause you to feel uneasy at first, but you can be comfortable and confident with urologist Dr. Desiderio Avila Jr. He is a leading men’s health specialist, and he can properly address your incontinence.
We have your best interest at heart here at Ironwood Urology. Call us today at (480) 961-2323 to schedule an appointment, or fill out our simple online appointment request form. Treating the underlying cause of your incontinence issue is the way back to a full and enjoyable quality of life.
