Discreet treatment for urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that causes involuntary leakage of urine. It can range from occasional bladder leakage when coughing or laughing to a sudden, overwhelming urge to pee that’s difficult to control.

Incontinence can affect anyone, but studies have shown it to be more common in women, elderly people, and people with underlying bladder or pelvic floor conditions. The good news is that there are effective ways to treat it, including exercises and prescription urinary incontinence medication. 121doc offers a discreet online service to get your prescription urinary incontinence treatment delivered directly to your doorstep.

Normally, the bladder stores urine and releases it when you want to urinate. The detrusor muscle in the bladder wall is responsible for this. In incontinence, this process is disrupted. This causes loss of bladder control, causing urine to leak unintentionally or with increased urgency.

There are several potential causes for urinary incontinence, including a range of medical factors.

1. Problem with the detrusor muscles

The detrusor muscle in the bladder wall is responsible for storing and passing urine. Sometimes this muscle contracts involuntarily, resulting in an urgent need to pee even when the bladder is not full. This condition is called an overactive bladder. There can be several causes for involuntary detrusor contractions, including UTIs, neurological conditions, stroke or diabetes.

2. Blockage or obstruction affecting your bladder

Sometimes the bladder is obstructed, meaning you cannot empty it properly. This increases the pressure in the bladder, resulting in involuntary leaks. Your bladder can be obstructed by different reasons, such as bladder stones, constipation and in men, an enlarged prostate.

3. Weak pelvic floor muscles

The pelvic floor contains the muscles that support the bladder. If these muscles are weak or damaged, it can cause issues like urinary leakage. Causes of weak pelvic floor muscles can include pregnancy or giving birth, lack of exercise and obesity, natural muscle loss due to age or repeated straining of these muscles.

4. Medications

Some medications can affect bladder function, potentially causing increased urination, bladder relaxation or lack of muscle function or cognitive awareness. Examples include diuretics, sedatives, and antihistamines.

5. Dietary irritants

Overconsumption of artificial sweeteners and liquids, particularly alcohol or caffeinated drinks, has a diuretic effect, so they can increase urine production. They can also irritate the bladder, reducing the capacity to hold urine.

Urinary incontinence symptoms are often classified into four main types.

1. Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence happens when pressure is put on the bladder, resulting in leakage of urine. This can be triggered, for example, by coughing, laughing, exercise or lifting heavy objects.

2. Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence causes an intense and sudden need to urinate. Its symptoms include having to pee more frequently than normal and waking up at night to go to the toilet, often leading to involuntary leaks. Several factors can trigger urge incontinence, including different medical conditions and overconsumption of liquids.

3. Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder is not able to empty completely. This can lead to a persistent sensation that the bladder is full and dribbling or constant leaking of urine. It is usually caused by an obstruction that blocks the flow of urine, such as prostate enlargement.

4. Total incontinence

Total incontinence refers to the complete loss of control of the bladder, where urine leaks out constantly and uncontrollably. It is typically caused by neurological issues or nerve damage.

5. Mixed incontinence

Incontinence can also present as a combination of these, typically a mixture of stress and urge incontinence. This is particularly common in women due to childbirth or ageing.

Diagnosis of urinary incontinence is based on your symptoms, bladder habits, and medical history. The doctor may ask you how often you urinate, whether you experience sudden urgency, night-time urination (nocturia), or difficulty fully emptying your bladder. These details will help them identify what type of incontinence you have.

In some cases, further tests may be required. These may include urine tests to rule out infection, a bladder scan to check for urinary retention or urodynamic testing to assess your bladder function.

Is overactive bladder syndrome the same as urinary incontinence?

Although overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence are closely linked, they are not the same thing. OAB causes several bladder issues that are often linked to incontinence, specifically urge incontinence. This condition does not always cause leaking, but the sudden, urgent need and increased frequency to pee throughout the day increase the risk of involuntary leaks.

Treatment depends on the type and severity of your symptoms. Most people will benefit from a combination of treatments, including lifestyle changes and medical options.

Lifestyle changes

Certain lifestyle factors can worsen urinary incontinence. Therefore, the following changes can help in controlling your symptoms:

• reducing caffeine and alcohol intake
• bladder training to improve bladder control
• managing fluid intake
• maintaining a healthy weight

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, can help strengthen the muscles that support the bladder. Squeezing and holding your pelvic floor muscles repeatedly is particularly effective for stress urinary incontinence and for women after childbirth.

Urinary incontinence is common and treatable, and most people will see significant improvement in their symptoms with the right treatment.

At 121doc, we offer two medical treatment options for urinary incontinence: Vesicare (Solifenacin) and Detrusitol (Tolterodine). They belong to a class of medications called antimuscarinics that work by relaxing the bladder muscles and reducing bladder contractions, allowing the bladder to hold more urine.

You can order incontinence treatments online from 121doc by completing a short online questionnaire. This allows a qualified doctor to assess whether one of these treatments is suitable for you, without the need for a face-to-face appointment.

You should contact your doctor if:

• incontinence affects your daily activities
• you regularly need to wake up to pee during the night
• your symptoms have become worse over time
• you feel unable to fully empty your bladder

A medical assessment will help to determine the cause and find the most suitable treatment option for your symptoms.

If you’re looking for a convenient option, 121doc offers an online service that allows you to complete a secure medical questionnaire and receive expert guidance and treatment options without the need for a face-to-face appointment.