Urinary incontinence is approximately twice as common in women as in men. Although this complaint is not a life-threatening situation, it seriously impairs the quality of life. Think about it; You climb 3 flights of stairs and tighten your abdominal muscles so much to hold back urine that you feel muscle pain; After a while, coughing and sneezing become something that should not be done in public; You go shopping and you have to go to the toilet 3 times in 1 hour... Many stories like these...
As the population of elderly women increases, urinary incontinence emerges as a serious problem. It is a problem that affects almost 50% of women. However, 2/3 of these women do not seek a solution, mainly due to social shyness or because they are unaware that they can get help in this regard. Today, treatments for urinary incontinence are possible with medication and surgical methods. The type of treatment varies depending on the type of urinary incontinence. There are basically 3 types of hijacking:
1. Stress incontinence: Urinary incontinence when coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects.
2. URGE incontinence: Urinary incontinence with the urgent need to urinate.
3. Mixed incontinence: The type where both occur together.
1) Stress Incontinence: It is involuntary leakage of urine due to exertion or physical strain, sneezing or coughing. In cases that increase intra-abdominal pressure, urinary incontinence occurs when this increased pressure is not transmitted to the urethra appropriately.
Non-surgical methods in its treatment:
Dietary measures may be a changeable factor. Reducing the consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, restricting fluid intake in patients who will not have health-related problems, pelvic floor muscle exercises, Weight loss in patients with weight problems can provide up to 75% improvement in patients with mild and moderate urinary incontinence by teaching and applying KEGEL exercises. Surgical treatment should be considered in patients who complain of severe urinary incontinence or who are unsuccessful in these methods. There are many surgical methods described on this subject. Which method is suitable for the patient is determined by the doctor as a result of examination and a number of tests, and 75-90% improvements are reported after an appropriately selected surgical procedure.
2) URGE Incontinence: It is a complaint of involuntary urinary incontinence with urgency. The patient may have complaints of frequent urination and nocturnal urinary incontinence. It is a condition seen in almost 38% of women over the age of 65. Behavioral changes and medication use are standard treatments for this type of urinary incontinence. Behavior therapy; Creating a urination schedule for the patient at certain intervals, timed urination, is a kind of bladder retraining. Pelvic floor exercises also help treat this type of urinary incontinence. Again, the most popular treatment for the unsuccessful patient group is the use of medication. There are many drugs used in this field. Drug selection should be made according to the patient's condition and complaints.
3) Mixed Incontinence: It is the type where both stress and urge urinary incontinence occur together. Patients may show symptoms of both types. The treatment plan should be made according to the patient's worst symptom. Whichever symptom affects the patient's life more, priority should be given to the treatment of that symptom.
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