Introduction:
The impact of urinary leakage extends far beyond the physical act of leaking. Loss of bladder control can be socially isolating. Many women are reluctant to talk about their bladder control problems because they are embarrassed and/or believe the issues are a normal part of aging and/or childbirth. Incontinence is a medical condition, and with appropriate treatment, women can greatly improve their quality of life.
For women wanting female urology services in Bangalore, one of the first steps is understanding causes of urinary leakage and treatment options. At Regal Hospital, we provide female urology services, including treatment for urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections and other conditions affecting women’s urinary health.
If you live in North Bangalore (i.e. Thanisandra, Hennur, Yelahanka, Hebbal or Tirumanahalli), come meet us and get answers to your questions. We have a caring staff that is trained to support you in understanding your condition and available treatment options.
Female urology encompasses the diagnosis and management of urinary problems specific to women. Seeking female urology care helps determine the root cause of your problem and formulate a tailor-made treatment plan.
Common Types and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence
Recognizing the type of urinary incontinence can help your doctor guide appropriate care.
Stress Urinary Incontinence
This refers to the involuntary leakage of urine that occurs with an increase in abdominal pressure (e.g. with coughing or physical exercise).
Urge Urinary Incontinence
This refers to the involuntary leakage of urine that occurs with the sudden, strong desire to go to the bathroom. People with this condition can also experience frequent urination and awakening multiple times at night to urinate.
Mixed Urinary Incontinence
This occurs when both stress and urge urinary incontinence occur together.
There are other symptoms besides urinary incontinence that may warrant further evaluation and treatment. These include the frequent urge to urinate (urgency), the inability to postpone a bathroom trip (urge), the sensation of pelvic pressure or heavy bladder, and recurrent urinary tract infections.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Women?
There are multiple factors that can contribute to the development of urinary incontinence in women.
Common factors include:
- Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth that may stretch or weaken the pelvic floor.
- Menopause and the subsequent changes in the tissues that support the urinary tract.
- Aging and the resultant changes in bladder function and muscle tone.
- Obesity and the resulting increase in abdominal and pelvic pressure.
- Chronic cough and/or constipation and the resulting strain on the pelvic floor.
- Certain neurological conditions.
- Previous pelvic surgeries.
- UTIs and issues related to the bladder.
If you leak urine, it does not automatically mean that you have a weak pelvic floor. Some women have a pelvic floor that is too tight, and as a result, does not relax and coordinate properly. If you want to start a program to strengthen your pelvic floor, it is important to assess the pelvic floor first to determine if it is too tight.
How is Female Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms related to female urinary incontinence, the first step is to set up a consultation with a urologist to identify the root of the problem. He or she may want to know when you are leaking, how often you urinate, how urgent you need to go, and how your symptoms impact your daily activities.
Based on your symptoms, and depending on your medical history, the next steps may include:
– A medical history and symptom diary may help identify abnormal patterns. Abnormal patterns may include how much fluid you consume, how often you feel the need to go, and how often you leak.
– Urine samples may be taken to test for infection, blood in the urine, or other abnormalities.
– A physical examination may help your doctor assess the support of your pelvic structures and the function of your pelvic floor muscles.
– An ultrasound may be done to assess how full your bladder is and whether you are fully emptying your bladder.
– Other tests may include an x-ray or MRI.
– A urodynamic test may be recommended if other test do not provide information about why you are leaking. This may involve putting a tube into your bladder, and another into your urethra and asking you to urinate while you are hooked up to a machine that measures how well your bladder is storing and emptying urine.
– A cystoscopy is when a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end is inserted into your urethra, and moved through your bladder in order to evaluate the reason for your symptoms.
Not every person who is experiencing female urinary incontinence symptoms will require every single test. It is at the discretion of the health care practitioner what tests he or she thinks are appropriate based on your symptoms.
Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment
Treatment always begins with conservative approaches to change your lifestyle and behaviors. Surgery to treat female urinary incontinence is an absolute last resort, and only recommended in extreme cases.
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Kegel exercises involve repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles that support the bladder and help control urination. Women can learn the technique to do these exercises, and build the muscle strength over time, through a supervised exercise program.
However, repeatedly squeezing the wrong muscles can make discomfort worse. A qualified clinician or pelvic health physiotherapist will be able to determine if pelvic floor muscle relaxation or coordination exercises are appropriate.
- Bladder Training and Lifestyle Changes
Bladder training focuses on gradually increasing the time between bathroom trips, and is most helpful for women with symptom of urgency. Other changes to lifestyle and daily routines, that may not on their own improve symptoms, may also be suggested by your health care practitioner, and are sometimes combined with treatment and medial management.
These include:
– Modifying caffeine intake (based on whether it exacerbates urgency symptoms)
– Hydration management (avoiding severe restriction)
– Diet and lifestyle changes for better bowel health
– Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
– Practical management of bathroom visits (including using different kinds of urinary control aids, and arranging for other people to be present during bathroom visits)
– Tracking symptoms
These lifestyle changes may be recommended in addition to treatment.
- Medication
A variety of prescription medications may be recommended for people with overactive bladders or urgency-related incontinence. Your doctor will take into account many factors, including the expected benefits of the medication, potential side effects, your other health conditions, and other medications you may be taking, before recommending any treatment.
- Specialist Procedures and Surgery
Some patients may require surgery or other more invasive treatment options if less-invasive options fail to improve symptoms. These may be recommended based on results of a physical examination, and what a clinician expects may benefit you most. Discuss the options available to you with your health care practitioner.
Pelvic Rehab at Regal Hospital: What You Should Know
Why is Regal Hospital’s Pelvic Rehab a Popular Search Term?
Pelvic floor muscles support the pelvic organs and help control the opening and closing of the urethra and anal sphincter muscles. Muscle spasms, fatigue and the loss of coordination of the muscles of the pelvic floor can occur because of a number of reasons, such as childbirth, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, incorrect exercise and surgery.
Pelvic rehab at Regal Hospital is a search term utilized by females concerned about their pelvic floor. The rehabilitation process consists of a comprehensive evaluation, followed by a treatment plan to improve muscle strength, relaxation and coordination as well as bladder control if needed.
Early evaluation allows a patient to learn and understand the reason for her symptoms and may eliminate her dependency on pads and/or repetitive trips to the bathroom.
When should you seek medical attention?
Usually, an individual with mild stress incontinence (leaking of small amounts of urine during increased abdominal pressure, i.e. during coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise) does not require medical attention.
Seek medical attention if stress incontinence interferes with your regular activities such as sleeping, and/or you experience discomfort while urinating and have frequent urinary infections.
Urgent medical attention is required if you have bloody urine and/or have severe lower abdominal and/or pelvic pain, as well as inability to pass urine, and/or have fever with the above symptoms.
Urgent medical attention is required if there is sudden loss of bladder control, new leg weakness, numbness around the groin or the area over the saddle, or if there is loss of bowel control.
What Makes Regal Hospital in Bangalore, India, A Standout for Female Urology?
Regal Hospital in Bangalore has a female urology service for the treatment of conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary tract infections and others. Located in Tirumanahalli, Bangalore, it could be an option for patients from North Bangalore and surrounding areas.
Women looking for a urology hospital in Bangalore, India, can approach the care team to discuss their symptoms and find out about the diagnostic tests and treatment options available.
Women are often more comfortable discussing their symptoms if they have prior knowledge of the treatment process and the tests involved. Writing down symptoms can also be helpful. Ask about privacy arrangements, and if the specialist is the right one for you.
Consulting a female urology doctor is the best way for women to get a more specific diagnosis and a tailor-made treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is urinary incontinence common in women?
Yes. Urinary incontinence affects women of different ages, particularly after pregnancy, childbirth or menopause. It is not something you must simply accept; medical assessment can identify appropriate treatment options.
- Can pelvic floor exercises stop urine leakage?
Pelvic floor muscle training can improve stress and mixed urinary incontinence for many women. Results depend on the underlying condition, correct technique and consistency. Some women need other treatments.
- When should I consult a female urology specialist?
Consult a specialist if you experience recurring leakage, urgency, frequent urination, difficulty emptying your bladder or symptoms that affect your daily routine. Seek urgent care for warning signs such as fever with urinary symptoms or inability to urinate.
- Is surgery always necessary for urinary incontinence?
No. Many women start with pelvic floor training, bladder training and lifestyle changes. Medication or procedures may be considered when appropriate, depending on the diagnosis and response to initial treatment.
- How can I arrange a female urology consultation at Regal Hospital?
You can contact Regal Hospital using the telephone numbers below to ask about appointment availability, the appropriate specialist and female urology services.
Book Your Free Consultation Today
Call us today: +91 888 405 8888.
Visit us: Near Thanisandra-Yelahanka Road, Bengaluru
Learn more: www.regalhospital.com
This blog is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from a qualified doctor. Please consult a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
