- 1). Consult with your urologist or gynecologist. You need to undergo a complete pelvic and rectal exam to rule out other causes of involuntary urine loss.
- 2). Keep a urine diary. Write down how often you urinate during the day and at night, and the times when you experience unintentional urine loss. Also indicate the amount of urine voided. This will help your doctor determine if her treatment is working.
- 3). Avoid excessive fluid intake. Drink no more than eight glasses (about 8 ounces each) in a day.
- 4). Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks, especially when a toilet is not easily accessible. Coffee, tea and liquor all promote urine formation.
- 5). Urinate more frequently to prevent distending your bladder. Even if you don't feel the urge to void yet, make it a habit to go to the toilet during your breaks.
- 6). If you are going on a trip, make sure to plan bathroom stops along the way. A portable urine bag is also handy during these trips.
- 7). Perform kegel exercises three times a day to strengthen your pelvic muscles. You may join classes for this exercise or ask a physical therapist to instruct you so that you can do them at home.
- 8). Use a vaginal pessary or a urethral plug, as prescribed by your doctor. The former provides additional support to your bladder while the latter acts like a tampon and seals off your urethra to prevent urine leakage. These devices have to be inserted by or under the supervision of your doctor.
- 9). Ask your doctor if you need medications. In mild to moderate stress incontinence, you may be given drugs that inhibit bladder contractions (e.g., oxybutynin, tolterodine) and increase the tone of sphincter muscles (e.g., phenylpropanolamine, imipramine).
- 10
Ask your doctor if you need surgery. Collagen injection, suspension of pelvic structures, creation of an artificial sphincter and the sling procedure are among the treatment methods you may benefit from.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time