Incontinence can usually be treated and cured, or at least improved. Depending on the type of incontinence, your doctor can prescribe a combination of behavioral techniques and/or medical treatment. For example, women who suffer from stress incontinence can do Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the uterus and bladder and tend to weaken with pregnancy and age. Kegel exercises require a woman to slowly contract her pelvic floor muscles while urinating in order to stop urine flow. The exercises can also be done at other times; the more a woman performs these, the stronger the muscles will be.
Another exercise that may treat incontinence is bladder retraining. The patient writes down liquid intake, frequency of urination, and quantity of urination for one week; then he or she is advised to urinate at scheduled intervals. Over a period of a few weeks, the length of time between trips to the bathroom increases.
Biofeedback is another non-medical approach used to combat incontinence. The purpose of biofeedback is to teach a patient how to monitor his or her body and use muscle relaxation or guided imagery to alter the body’s responses. Biofeedback should be used only after consultation with a doctor, and under the care of a biofeedback expert. The guide teaches a person to monitor his or her own physiological responses so that eventually the patient can monitor them without a guide.
A doctor may also choose to prescribe medication for incontinence. Different ones are available depending on the type of incontinence. Some women with stress incontinence use a device called a pessary. Pessaries fit into the vagina to support the pelvic muscles, much like tampons.
Doctors recommend surgery only in extreme cases. For women who are incontinent after childbirth, surgery can repair damaged muscles and ligaments. If incontinence is uncontrollable, absorbent underwear or devices that capture urine in plastic bags can help manage the problem.
