Urinary Incontinence in Women Common, but Treatable
By Robin Foster
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 deal with the indignities of urinary incontinence, but experts say no one has to suffer in silence.
Frequently considered an inevitable problem of aging, most women never even try to get treatment for the urinary leakage that they experience, said Dr. Christopher Hartman, chief of urology at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York City.
Why?
"Many women often cite embarrassment as the reason for their delay in seeking care," he explained.
Before they decide to get help, women need to determine what kind of incontinence they have. Stress urinary incontinence is most frequently caused by laughing, coughing, sneezing or exercising. Conversely, urge incontinence occurs when a person experiences a strong desire to urinate and cannot stop this sensation, Hartman explained. This is typically the result of a problem with the bladder itself or certain triggers such as caffeine and spicy foods, which cause the bladder to contract.