Incontinence is one of the most embarrassing topics of discussion of women’s health and is categorized by some in the medical profession as being in the ‘toilet group’, a loosely bound group of feminine health complaints which have some connection to what happens around the toilet. Other hard to discuss complaints which fall under this toilet group are gas, bladder, bowel and menstrual problems, urinary tract infections, vaginal discharges and odors and the like.

Statistics in the United States show that one in three women under the age of thirty five has a problem with bladder control; and that, in total, more than seventeen million American women have an incontinence problem. Doctors tell us that one of the reasons that so many women suffer from this embarrassing condition but do not even think of discussing it with their doctors is that it is associated with aging, and the average woman does not like to admit to getting on in years.

The 3 facts that go towards making a diagnosis of incontinence comprise:

– Stress Incontinence, which is any involuntary leakage of urine for whatever reason. For instance, if you burst out laughing or start coughing and leak at the same time; or if you get up from a sitting position quickly and find you cannot control a leak;

– Urge Incontinence is a great urge to go to the toilet because the bladder suddenly feels very full and not being able to get to the toilet in time, as well as the urge to urinate at unusual times, especially when one is asleep; and

– An overactive bladder causes much more frequent urination than usual, especially during the time of perimenopause (the years when your reproductive organs start slowing down and preparing for the menopause). Women who have to urinate frequently during the day – even up to eight times – and then have to get up two or three times during the night to urinate are deemed to have an overactive bladder.

Most doctors blame the female aspects of pregnancy, childbearing and childbirth and perimenopause and the full blown menopause as the causes of incontinence in women, especially as statistics show that twice as many women suffer from this problem as men do.

There is a syndrome called Functional Incontinence which afflicts both males and females. This form of the malady is caused by people who cannot get to the toilet in time because of medical or physical constraints, such as Alzheimer sufferers who are not able to decide for themselves when to go to the toilet or how long it would take them to get there; or those people who are confined to a wheelchair or have physical disabilities which make it difficult for them to go to the toilet.

The good news for women who suffer from this embarrassing problem is that, in most cases, there is a simple remedy known as the Kegel Exercise which, over a period of time, strengthens the muscles until you are able to once again control your bladder.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Incontinence in Women,women’s health ,feminine health complaints ,bladder control,perimenopause,preg