By urology, we mean the part of health care dealing with the problems of the male and female urinary tract. The tract includes kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. A specialist in urology, known as an urologist, also deals in problems with the male reproductive organs. These include the penis, testes, scrotum, prostate, etc.

A common urology problem is a urinary incontinence. In this condition, a person is unable to control the leaking of urine. It sometimes creates an embarrassing situation as urine may leak out if you cough or sneeze. As a person grows old, this condition becomes more frequent. However, it can happen at any age. You should seek medical help if you are suffering from this condition. It is possible to take an online doctor appointment for a medical consultation.

There are minor, occasional leakages of urine in some people. The frequency of urine leakage is more for other people.

Types

Urinary incontinence has the following types:

  • Urge incontinence: A sudden and intense urge of urine happens in this type and it leads to an involuntary loss of urine. The urge to urinate happens at frequent intervals during the whole day and also at night.

  • Stress incontinence: During coughing, sneezing, exercising, laughing or lifting heavy objects, there is extra pressure on your bladder and urine leaks.

  • Functional incontinence: You are not able to go to the toilet in time if you suffer from this condition.

  • Overflow incontinence: When the bladder doesn’t get fully empty, it causes constant or frequent dripping of urine.

  • Mixed incontinence: This is when you have more than one type of urinary incontinence.

You can discuss these types during an online doctor consultation in India and then personally visit the doctor for further check-ups.

Causes

Many physical changes and problems can cause urinary incontinence. Some causes of urinary incontinence are:

  • Pregnancy: Urinary incontinence can happen due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and the increased weight of the fetus.

  • Childbirth: The muscles, necessary for bladder control, can become weak after vaginal delivery. This can also cause damage to the bladder nerves and supportive tissues leading to a prolapsed (dropped) pelvic floor. Due to this, the uterus, bladders, small intestine or rectum can protrude into the vagina. Urinary incontinence results from this.

  • Menopause: There is less production of estrogen in women after menopause. As a result, the tissues in the lining of the urethra and the bladder become unhealthy. This can result in urinary incontinence.

  • Age: As you become old, there are more frequent involuntary contractions in the bladder muscle. The capacity of the bladder to store urine decreases due to ageing of the bladder muscle.

  • Enlarged prostate: Urinary incontinence often happens due to an enlarged prostate gland in old people.

Treatment

Before you physically visit a doctor for treatment, it is better to have an online doctor consultation. The doctor may recommend different behavioral techniques to manage urinary incontinence. You can get benefits from pelvic floor muscle exercises. Different medications, medical devices, interventional therapies and surgery are other effective treatment options.