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• Rachel Z. Jones, MD FACOG

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FEMALE URINARY INCONTINENCE overview

Simply defined as the loss of voluntary bladder control resulting in urinary leakage, incontinence can be mild to severe and is generally classified according to four main types:

HOW YOUR LOWER URINARY TRACT FUNCTIONS:

In normal urinary control, the bladder stores the urine and the sphincter muscle holds the urine in the bladder. When the urine is being stored, the bladder muscle is relaxed and the urethral sphincter muscle contracts. Emptying the bladder involves the opposite: the bladder contracts while the sphincter and pelvic floor muscles relax.

Types of problems include:

• inability to store urine
• bladder’s inability to stretch
• urethra (tube through which urine is passed out of the body) is unable to close

COMMON AND CURABLE

Extraordinarily common, urinary incontinence affects about 22 million American women and the prevalence continues to rise. Estimates say it may eventually be an issue for half of all women at some point in their lives. It’s not surprising, then, that the myth persists that incontinence is a normal part of aging and that little can be done to correct it.

On the contrary, incontinence is not a disease or a condition; it’s a symptom that something is wrong in the body. Fortunately many simple, highly successful treatment options exist. Up to 90% of cases, in fact, are easily cured.

THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMPONENT

While bladder control issues are primarily physical problems, they often have profound emotional consequences. Embarrassment over the issue can cause women to withdraw from their normal activities, resulting in depression, anxiety and loss of self-esteem. In fact, incontinence is second only to major depression in the impact to quality of life.

Quality of life issues that may result from incontinence:

• Loss of productivity at work and at home
• Undesirable changes in relationships—with spouse (avoiding sexual relations), children (becoming less involved) and friends (withdrawing from social activities)
• Secondary physical problems, including skin conditions and urinary tract infections
• Older women with bladder control issues are often moved from their homes into a nursing facility

AWARENESS LEADS TO ACTION

Because loss of bladder control is such a sensitive issue and because so many women are unaware of the highly successful treatment options, many do not seek treatment. Studies show that 62% of women with incontinence symptoms wait a year or longer before discussing the matter with a physician, and 17% wait five or more years.

With information and awareness, however, women can indeed gain a new sense of control — over their bladder and their life.

The estimated financial cost of not treating incontinence is $1,000 per year in absorbent products and laundry costs. The emotional cost is incalculable.