Urinary Incontinence: Treatments
The types of treatment for urinary incontinence are many and varied. The treatment you choose will depend on the severity of your problem and which solution will best fit your lifestyle. In general, doctors recommend you begin with the simplest and safest treatments and then advance as you see fit.
These treatments include:
Addressing the disease that is causing your incontinence, if it is a side effect of some other problem Wearing absorbent underwear or pads to mask the problem
Avoiding foods and drinks that irritate the bladder such as coffee, citrus fruits, dairy products, and alcohol Using Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles that control the bladder Training your bladder by urinating at set intervals and using relaxation techniques and biofeedback to control the urge to urinate Using medication, such as vaginal estrogen cream for women or prostate drugs for men
Undergoing surgery to change the position of the bladder, narrow the urethra (the tube which passes urine from the bladder), or to address an enlarged prostate
Urinary incontinence can be successfully controlled and treated, but only if you overcome whatever embarrassment you are feeling and seek the advice of your doctor.
Last Updated: 03/12/2009
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