Although urinary incontinence is a very common women’s health problem, it’s often considered somewhat taboo. The embarrassment and lack of open discussion around this topic makes it a breeding ground for inaccurate information. Here are some of the most common misconceptions regarding urinary incontinence.
It’s an inevitable part of ageing
Although your risk of urinary incontinence increases with age, it’s by no means an inevitable part of the ageing process. Indeed, it can affect women of any age. In particular, pregnancy can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the chances of a leaky bladder, while the drop in oestrogen during the menopause can also cause incontinence symptoms. You’re also at greater risk of urinary incontinence if you’re overweight.
Cutting back on fluid intake can ease the problem
Some people believe that if you reduce how much liquid you drink, you won’t have to worry about urinary incontinence as much. This isn’t really tackling the problem head-on, and may actually only lead to dehydration. It can also make your urine more concentrated, which can irritate the bladder.
Make sure you carry on consuming adequate fluids, especially in situations where you have easy access to a bathroom. You may want to avoid caffeine or juice, however, which can sometimes annoy the bladder.
Incontinence affects everyone in the same way
Incontinence is incontinence, right? Actually, incontinence can vary significantly between individuals and may affect them in different ways. How urinary incontinence affects someone tends to depend on what type they have. For instance, stress incontinence is caused by pressure on the bladder, such as through sneezing or exercise, while urge incontinence is the result of an overactive bladder. Because incontinence can affect women differently, it’s vital to speak to a specialist to discuss what treatment is most suitable for you.
It’s something that you have to put up with
Far from having to endure urinary incontinence, there are many treatment options nowadays that can help to ease the symptoms of this common health problem. Certainly, it’s not something you should have to put up with, especially if it’s making you feel miserable or uncomfortable.
Surgery is the only treatment option
Many women are put off seeking help for their urinary incontinence, as they don’t want to go down the surgery route. In fact, there are lots of other ways to tackle this problem aside from surgery. These range from lifestyle modifications to exercises, medications as well as new high-tech treatments that are non-invasive and non-surgical yet produce highly effective results. Rather than suffering in silence, any woman affected by this issue should seek expert medical guidance to discuss her various options.