Female Urinary Incontinence, Female Urology

Have you ever noticed that you leaked urine when you were lifting something very heavy or when you coughed or sneezed?If you experienced any of the above, you may be suffering from "female urinary incontinence". If you are suffering from female urinary incontinence, you are not alone: 51 million women all over the world suffer from this problem (17 million in US alone).Female urinary incontinence (FUI), or urinary incontinence in general, is an involuntarily loss of urine. Majority of cases of female urinary incontinence are based on treatable condition, but it's under reported as well.

Types of Female Urinary Incontinence

Most common types of female urinary incontinence are stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence. If FUI involves both types, then it is referred to as mixed type urinary incontinence.

Causes of Female Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence

If FUI involves the stress type, it is mostly caused by pelvic structure damage during birth and consequent loss of urethral support.

Urge urinary incontinence

If FUI is an urge type, it is due to uninhibited contrition of the bladder muscle which squeezes urine out of the bladder.

Further causes

• Polyuria: too much urine production
• Caffeine or Cola
• Enlarged prostate in men
• Nerve conduction disorders

Female Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis

Your urologist or gynecologist will be able to diagnose the type of FUI based on history, physical examination, ultrasound studies, urodynamic studies and further tests which may include urine analysis, stress test, blood analysis, etc.

Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment

The treatment options range from conservative treatment, behavior management, bladder retraining, pelvic floor therapy, medications and surgery. The success of treatment depends on the correct diagnoses in the first place.If you are suffering from female urinary incontinence, please do not be ashamed to consult with your urologist for the right diagnosis and proper treatment which in many cases is able to alleviate or completely cure your suffering.