What Causes Stress Urinary Incontinence?

Stress incontinence is when you accidentally leak urine, and it’s the most common type of this problem. It mostly happens to people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), but it can affect men too, just not as often.

With stress incontinence, your bladder gets squeezed when there’s pressure on it. So, you might leak a bit of pee when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Even things like jumping, running, or lifting something heavy can make you pee a little.

What are the Causes of Urinary Incontinence?

Stress incontinence happens when the support for your urethra weakens. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. It’s supported by muscles in your pelvis, which also support your bladder. A special muscle called the sphincter keeps your bladder closed to stop urine from leaking out.

When these muscles get weak, pressure on your bladder can make urine leak out. You might notice this when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, lift heavy things, or have sex.

Weak muscles can be caused by different things, like:

• Giving birth
• Injury to the area around your urethra
• Certain medicines
• Pelvic or prostate surgery (for men)
• Being overweight
• Sometimes, the cause is unknown

Stress incontinence is common in women. Some things can increase your chances of having it, such as:

• Being pregnant and giving birth
• Pelvic prolapse, which is when your bladder, urethra, or rectum move into your vagina. Giving birth can damage nerves or tissues in your pelvis, which might lead to pelvic prolapse later on, even months or years after giving birth.

How to fix stress urinary incontinence naturally?

Besides doing exercises for your pelvic floor, you can also try these things to help with stress incontinence:

• Drink less fluid. If you usually drink a lot, try cutting back. Also, avoid drinking water right before bed.
• Avoid high-impact activities. Jumping and running can put extra pressure on your bladder.
• Eat more fiber. This helps prevent constipation, which can make incontinence worse.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can cause coughing and irritate your bladder. Plus, it raises your chances of getting bladder cancer.
• Cut down on alcohol and caffeine. Drinks like coffee can make your bladder fill up faster.
• Lose weight. Extra pounds can put more strain on your bladder.
• Watch what you eat and drink. Some foods and drinks, like spicy foods, sodas, and citrus, can bother your bladder.
• Manage diabetes. Keep your blood sugar in check if you have diabetes. High blood sugar can worsen incontinence.
• Bladder training can be helpful. This involves peeing at set times and slowly increasing the time between bathroom visits. It helps your bladder stretch and hold more urine.

Possible Complications of Urinary Incontinence

Sometimes, there can be some problems, but they’re usually not serious. Here are some things that might happen:

• Irritation around the vagina (vulva).
• Sores or ulcers on the skin, especially if someone has trouble controlling their bladder and can’t move around much.
• Unpleasant smells.
• Urinary tract infections.

Living with this condition might affect your social life, job, and relationships. It could cause:

• Feeling embarrassed.
• Being alone more often.
• Feeling sad or worried.
• Not being as productive at work.
• Losing interest in sex.
• Having trouble sleeping.

Commonly asked questions about Urinary Incontinence

Can emotional stress cause urinary incontinence?

Yes, emotional stress can indeed trigger urinary incontinence. When you’re stressed or anxious, adrenaline rushes through your body, which can signal your bladder to empty more frequently. So, what’s happening in your mind can affect what’s happening in your bladder.

How to get rid of stress urinary incontinence?

There are a few ways to tackle stress urinary incontinence:

• Behavioral changes and bladder training- This involves learning techniques to control your bladder better.
• Pelvic floor muscle training -Strengthening these muscles can help support your bladder and control leakage.
• BTL Emsella incontinence therapy – This is an non-invasive treatment that uses an unsound pelvic floor to treat Stress Urinary Incontinence.
• Surgery- In some cases, surgery might be recommended if other methods haven’t worked.

However, there are no specific medicines approved by the FDA for treating stress incontinence, although some doctors might prescribe a medicine called duloxetine.

Can being overweight cause stress urinary incontinence?

Yes, being overweight, especially if you carry extra weight around your midsection, can increase your chances of experiencing stress urinary incontinence. The extra weight puts pressure on your bladder, which can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and urethral structures, making leaks more likely.

Can stress urinary incontinence cause infertility?

Stress urinary incontinence itself doesn’t directly cause infertility. However, it’s closely linked to sexual dysfunctions, which can affect fertility indirectly. Studies have shown that women with urinary incontinence may have less sexual desire, interest in foreplay, and satisfaction during sex compared to those without the condition.

How dangerous is stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence comes in different levels of seriousness, but it can really mess with a woman’s daily life. It makes it hard to do things physically and socially, which can bring down the overall quality of life. But the bright side is it can be treated quite well. So, reaching out to a doctor is key to getting a handle on the symptoms and feeling better.

How does mesh help stress urinary incontinence?

Mesh is a common surgical option for treating stress urinary incontinence. During the procedure, a surgeon guides a piece of mesh from the vagina to the groin muscles using a needle. This mesh forms a sling that supports the urethra, helping to prevent urine leakage. The sling is secured by the surrounding soft tissue.

Take Control of Your Life with Haven Medspa’s BTL Emsella Service at Haven Medspa

Dealing with urinary incontinence can really mess up your day-to-day life, but Haven Medspa has got your back. Our BTL Emsella service is highly advanced, and it’s all about helping you control your bladder and improve your life. No surgery is needed!

Why Choose Haven Medspa?

We are based in Yuba City and Lincoln/Rocklin, CA, and are experts in treating urinary incontinence. We are here to ease the physical and mental strain of urinary incontinence so you can return to enjoying a normal life without any insecurities. Contact Haven Medspa today for effective treatment.