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Urinary Incontinence
The Effects, Treatment and Causes of Overactive Bladder
By Donna Smith
The NAFC says approximately 80 percent of people affected by incontinence can be cured or improve their quality of life. Options for treatment and management include changes in diet, medications, pelvic exercises, absorbent products or a combination.
"If a woman realizes that her incontinence is affecting her lifestyle, that's the time to seek help," says Dr. Gazala Siddiqui, assistant professor of urogynecology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. "I've had patients who were fired from their jobs, including a security guard because she had to leave her station every 20 minutes. Another was terminated because she smelled bad. They just don't need to suffer like that."
"When a woman presents to our office with severe urinary incontinence, one of the first things we evaluate is what type of pad she is wearing," Dr. Elser says. "Chronic moisture, especially with constant contact of urine against the vulvar skin (vaginal lips) can lead to skin breakdown, ulcerations and skin infection."
Dr. Elser says pads designed for menstrual use are often inadequate for absorbing urine loss for women with more than mild incontinence. "Incontinence pads are filled with gel beads," she says. "When urine comes into contact with the beads, it forms a gel-like substance. The urine thus stays in the pad, and is not in direct contact with the skin."
