Understanding the Impact of Stress Urinary Incontinence and What You Can Do

Many women suffer from stress incontinence, yet the issue is frequently misdiagnosed or ignored. Urine leaks when physical activity or movement, including laughing, sneezing, coughing, or exercising, exerts pressure on the bladder.

Although physical stress is the focus here, this condition can also create emotional and mental strain, which can be equally difficult to manage. The ability to recognize stress incontinence and take appropriate action to manage it can greatly enhance one’s quality of life.

The Basics of Stress Incontinence

Weakness of the muscles supporting the bladder and urethra results in stress incontinence. Urine flow regulation is largely dependent on these muscles, especially the pelvic floor muscles. They are less able to withstand pressure from routine motions like sneezing or bending down when they are weak or injured. This results in accidental leaks, which can vary from little trickles to more obvious mishaps.

As found in a BMC Journal study, around 39.5% of the women participating had urinary continence. From these, stress urinary incontinence was the most prevalent, with 20.6% of the women facing it. It was followed by urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), suffered by 10.4%, and 8.5% faced mixed urinary incontinence.

These muscles might deteriorate due to a variety of circumstances. For instance, it can be caused due to the pressure of carrying and delivering a baby, which can stretch or injure the pelvic floor. The above study also found that women who had given birth to three or more children were less vulnerable to this condition.

Does aging cause urinary incontinence?

Age also plays a role since muscles deteriorate with age, particularly after menopause when the body experiences hormonal changes. A hysterectomy, obesity, persistent coughing, and other procedures can also be contributing factors since they all put more strain on the pelvic floor.

The Emotional Impact

The physical symptoms of stress incontinence are simply one facet of the issue for many women. There may be a considerable emotional cost. Managing the humiliation caused by an unplanned leak can have an impact on confidence and self-worth.

Fearing an accident in public, some women may steer clear of social events, exercise, or other activities they used to love. Isolation and, in some situations, anxiety or sadness can result from this worry.

An NCBI study noted that work difficulties are also associated with the mental health impact of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Another big challenge is that a lot of times, these women are not able to get appropriate help. Around 40% of the women with SUI frequency between once a month and a few times a week were not able to seek treatment.

The unpredictable nature of stress urinary incontinence might lead to more mental pressure. Women could feel as though they must always be on alert, looking for the closest bathroom or wearing pads “just in case.” These behaviors have the potential to negatively impact relationships, daily living, and general well-being over time.

Can anxiety lead to stress urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence and OAB may potentially be worsened by stress, worry, and depression. The risk of having urine incontinence was found to be 1.5–2 times higher in individuals who had anxiety or depression symptoms at baseline. This was found in research including over 16,000 women in Norway.

Treatment Options for Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence can be managed in a number of ways, from dietary adjustments to pharmaceutical treatments. The degree of symptoms and underlying reasons frequently determine the best course of therapy.

Kegel exercises, sometimes referred to as pelvic floor exercises, are one of the best methods for strengthening those muscles. These exercises, which assist in regaining strength and enhance bladder control, involve tightening and releasing the muscles that regulate the flow of pee.

With persistent practice, Kegel exercises can lead to substantial improvements in leakage. Women can receive instruction from a healthcare professional on carrying out these exercises appropriately, as improper execution might reduce their efficacy.

However, some basic guidelines include carrying out these exercises when the bladder is empty. You can simply lie on your back and tighten your pelvic muscles, hold them tight, and then relax them. After a few weeks of kegel exercises, you should feel fewer symptoms of the condition. However, the exercises might sometimes not help if the issue is severe.

In such cases, transvaginal mesh can be useful in controlling conditions like stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Transvaginal mesh is a natural or synthetic mesh implant used to treat SUI or POP in the vagina. It can assist in supporting fallen organs, improve a weakening vagina wall, or prevent urine leaks.

However, there are some issues with using transvaginal mesh, too. According to TruLaw, many patients who used transvaginal mesh have sued manufacturers for severe complications. Some of the complications highlighted in these lawsuits are:

• Mesh erosion
• Chronic pain
• Infection
• Vaginal scarring
• Injuries

Over 100,000 lawsuits have already been lodged against manufacturers of transvaginal meshes. The latest transvaginal mesh lawsuit update is that a New Jersey jury ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in one such case. This ruling was announced in May 2023. However, a month earlier, the US Supreme Court ruled against J&J in a case, awarding the victim $302 million.

What are the non-surgical treatments for stress incontinence?

Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), pessaries (vaginal implants for bladder support), and urethral inserts to stop leaks are examples of non-surgical therapies. Certain lifestyle modifications, such as cutting back on coffee and losing weight, can sometimes help control symptoms. However, if none of these treatments work, the doctor may recommend surgical options like sling surgery.

The Importance of Pelvic Health

A significant component of general health is pelvic floor wellness, particularly for women who are dealing with SUI. Maintaining the strength of these muscles supports not just the bladder but also the uterus and colon. A healthy pelvic floor can help avoid issues like prolapse, which is the shifting of organs out of position.

Strong pelvic floor muscles are necessary for all bowel and bladder functions. For instance, your pelvic floor muscles are used to stop leaks when you need to use the restroom. When you really go to the bathroom, you will then completely relax them to pass pee. Robust pelvic floor muscles enhance the strength and stability of your core. They can also enhance your libido.

As women age, maintaining pelvic health becomes increasingly more important. Hormonal fluctuations, especially during menopause, might impact muscle strength and suppleness, contributing to the development or worsening of stress incontinence. For this reason, even if a woman is not now suffering incontinence, she should incorporate regular pelvic floor exercises into her self-care regimen.

Breaking the Silence Around Stress Incontinence

Although it’s a frequent issue, stress incontinence is rarely discussed. Talking about the problem, even with close friends or family, makes many women uncomfortable. This silence, even though millions of women throughout the world suffer from comparable symptoms, might contribute to the problem of feeling alone.

About 50% of adult women are thought to be affected, yet only 25% to 61% of those women seek treatment. This might be because of shame, ignorance of available treatments, or the conviction that incontinence is a natural and normal aspect of aging. Regardless of the reason, not getting the right treatment at the right time can result in severe consequences.

A significant first step in treating stress incontinence is talking about it and getting help. Women can feel less alone and more empowered to take charge of their health by breaking the silence. Increasing awareness of stress incontinence might also lessen its stigma and motivate more women to get the assistance they require.

Although it might be annoying, stress incontinence is a treatable problem. Women may reclaim control and stop worrying about leaks at all with the appropriate strategy. There are choices to fit various requirements and tastes, whether through medicinal treatments, lifestyle modifications, or pelvic floor exercises.

Understanding stress incontinence and adopting proactive measures to treat it are essential to controlling the problem. Women may lessen the effects of stress incontinence by emphasizing pelvic health, getting care as soon as possible, etc. It’s never too late to regain control and self-assurance.