By Paul J. Watkins
Do you sometimes experience urine leakage when you laugh or sneeze? If so, you are in very good company. As many as half of all women today report this situation at least occasionally, and many even say they experience it on a regular basis, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
If you experience urinary leakage either some--or all, of the time--you may want to take this quick quiz to test your bladder health knowledge and get some key facts about this very common, but all too often overlooked, issue.
1. True or False: The phrase "urinary tract infection" refers to a condition in which bacteria grows only in the bladder.
The answer is false. A urinary tract infection can actually happen in the kidneys or in the bladder. Here’s why: Bacteria live all over your body—and sometimes they can find their way into your urinary tract and move up into the bladder. In most cases, your bladder can rid itself of these germs. But if it doesn’t, an infection can occur. This can trigger the symptoms that many of us probably know all too well: pain in the abdomen and pelvic area, frequent urge to urinate, and a burning sensation when we do. The good news is, a urinary tract infection can usually be treated with a prescription antibiotic—and typically goes away in a few days.
2. True or False: There’s nothing you can do about bladder leakage.
The answer is false. Leakage is a very common experience. Factors such as childbirth, menopause, carrying extra pounds and even lack of exercise can weaken your bladder muscles, making it harder to hold in your urine. But the good news is that there are simple steps you can take to minimize the inconvenience of those leakages. Often something as easy as wearing an specially designed bladder control pad and doing some regular strengthening exercises can make you feel much better. Limiting how much you drink throughout the day, as well as what you drink and when you have it, can also be very helpful. Further, your doctor may be able to suggest a range of other coping strategies, including alternative approaches, medications and even simple, low-risk surgical procedures that can make big improvements.
3. True or False: A sagging bladder has no affect on bladder weakness.
The answer is false. If your bladder is sagging this often means that the area that holds it up, which is called the pelvic floor, has been weakened or stretched. This can be caused by a variety of circumstances that strain the muscles and ligaments, such as childbirth, lifting heavy items and/or heavy coughing . With the area weakened, when you sneeze, cough, exercise or engage in other strenuous activities, you may find yourself experiencing leakage with no warning. If you seem to be coping with this situation on a regular basis, you may want to talk to your doctor about the best way to address it. In addition, if you have any accompanying symptoms, including frequent urinary tract infections, painful intercourse, or discomfort or pain in your vagina, pelvis, lower stomach, or back, your doctor will likely want to rule out any other complications.
The answer is false. There are many non-surgical techniques that can effectively address a sagging bladder. For example, behavior therapies such as exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor area that supports the bladder can be an effective management strategy for many women. If this doesn’t work for you, there are a variety of other approaches to try as well. For instance, estrogen replacement therapy, electrical stimulation, or even using a device that lifts and supports the weakened wall can all make a difference. Surgery is usually recommended only after other methods have been tried and found to have not been successful
