Ladies, did you know that bedwetting doesn't only happen to children? Some adults may also have experienced bedwetting or being unable to hold their urine, but for different reasons compared to children.
In the medical world, this is known as urinary incontinence. This condition can occur in people of any age but is most common in women over 50. Let's look at the following article so that we understand more about what urinary incontinence is.
Urinary Incontinence Definition
According to the International Continence Society (ICS), urinary incontinence is defined as a condition of accidental loss of urine. Another term is urine leakage, when the discharge of urine is involuntary or unintentional. It is estimated that about 25 million adults in the United States have this condition. In Indonesia alone, the prevalence of women suffering from urinary incontinence reached 13.5% in 2014.
Even though it is not a life-threatening condition, urinary incontinence can really interfere with the life of sufferers. Many people with this condition are afraid to do normal activities because they don't want to be far from the toilet. In addition, urinary incontinence can also affect psychological health, social interactions, and interpersonal and sexual relationships.
Urinary incontinence occurs in all age groups.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Although it is often found in elderly people, aging does not cause urinary incontinence. This condition is often caused by specific changes in body functions that lead to illness, drug use, and disease. Not infrequently, urinary incontinence is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Women are more likely to experience urinary inconsistencies during pregnancy, after childbirth, or after hormonal changes due to menopause.
Urinary incontinence is common in pregnant women.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is divided into several types, namely:
1. Pressure/stress urinary inconsistency
It is characterized by the release of urine involuntarily associated with increased pressure on the abdomen that occurs when sneezing, coughing, or due to other physical pressure. The cause of not being able to hold urine in this type is because the bladder and urethral muscles experience sudden extra stress so that urine comes out unnoticed.
2. Urge/urgency urinary incontinence
Characterized by the discharge of urine involuntarily, which is preceded by a sudden urge to urinate but cannot be held back, resulting in the patient urinating at the same time, aka incontinence. The causes can be non-neurogenic (the presence of stones, tumors, or bladder infections) and neurogenic (related to nerve disorders).
3. Overflow urinary incontinence
This type of incontinence occurs due to the inability of the bladder to accommodate all the urine that is produced, resulting in leakage. This condition is more common in men who have prostate problems.
4. Functional urinary incontinence
This type is characterized by urine leakage due to difficulty getting to the toilet on time, which can be caused by physical problems such as arthritis, injury, or other disorders.
Urinary Incontinence Risk Factors
In general, risk factors that can cause urinary incontinence are as follows:
- Lower urinary tract disorders.
- Increasing age results in changes in the anatomy and function of the urinary organs.
- History of diseases related to nervous disorders.
- Menopause.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Obesity
- History of surgery in the pelvic area.
Many women use diapers or tampons to protect their clothes from urine leakage temporary treatment. However, specific treatment for this condition depends on age, overall health condition, and medical history. This is because the range of treatment options, such as behavioral therapy, dietary modifications, pelvic muscle rehabilitation, drugs, and surgery, is quite large.
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Sources:
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (Unknown date). Urinary Incontinence in Women. [online]. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/urinary-incontinence/urinary-incontinence-in-women
InaSFFU. (2022). Inkontinensia Urin. [online]. https://iaui.or.id/public-section/article_inkontinensia