Many women live with the embarrassing problem of urinary incontinence and are too afraid to ask for help.  This common condition affects countless women and becomes more common as women age.  This condition is characterized by the leakage of urine and the loss of bladder control leading to accidents.  So many women are afraid to seek help for this problem but it is often very easy to treat so there really is no need to continue to suffer!

Three types of incontinence include:

1. Stress Incontinence:  Perhaps the most well known type of urine leakage, this condition is characterized by the leakage of urine during times of bladder stress.  Things that stress the bladder include coughing, lifting, sneezing and laughing.  It most commonly affects women who have had a regular childbirth. This problem can be improved through certain medications and exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
2. Urge Incontinence:  This type of incontinence is often called over active bladder.  This occurs when the muscles of the bladder spasm causing an urgent need to use the bathroom and leakage of urine.  Bladder retraining therapies and medications that relax this muscle are often used to control these symptoms.
3. Overflow Urinary Incontinence:  Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is unable to sense fullness. The bladder will then fill too much and urine will continuously leak.  Diabetic neurogenic bladder occurs due to years of uncontrolled blood sugar levels.  Neurogenic bladder treatments that involve improved blood glucose control through better a1c blood test results and nerve stimulation are often used to stop the progression of this disorder.

Treatments of urinary incontinence are dependent on the type of symptoms that a patient has. This is why it is important to keep a diary of your symptoms and then to discuss your problem in detail with your doctor.  With so many treatment options available, there is no need to live with this embarrassing problem anymore!