During daily routine life, involuntary and sudden flow of urine out of the urinary tract is called “urinary incontinence”. Urine leakage occurs largely from the urinary tract of the person. However, in some special and exceptional cases, it can also be through the large intestine or the genital organ in women. This problem may be high in some patients at rates that prevent daily life standards and normal activities. If the person laughs, coughs, sneezes, exercises, walks or even sits, or has urinary incontinence while lifting a heavy object, if there is a urinary incontinence problem before he can urinate, if he feels the need to urinate frequently in order to get rid of this feeling, if there is a feeling that the urine cannot be completely emptied, this should be perceived as a problem and a specialist should be consulted immediately.Urinary incontinence, also known as urinary incontinence, is known as a problem that negatively affects the standard of living in women and disrupts the comfort of social and personal life. Women usually do not tell their environment and the doctor about this problem because they are afraid and ashamed of the urinary incontinence problem they experience.

Today, the incidence of urinary incontinence in women is around 29%. The prevalence of serious urinary incontinence problems among women was recorded as 7%.

Types of Urinary Incontinence:

Stress Urinary Incontinence: It is the name given to urinary incontinence that occurs due to various exercises, running, coughing, sneezing, etc., which increase intra-abdominal pressure.

Urge Urinary Incontinence: It is the name given to the involuntary incontinence of urine as soon as the person feels urinating, without being able to reach the toilet. The occurrence of this condition occurs as a result of irregular and frequent contraction of the muscles in the bladder (Detrussor muscle), which is described as an overactive bladder.

Mixed (Combined – Mixed) Incontinence: It is the name given to the condition where both stress and urge incontinence occur together in the same patient.

Overflow Incontinence: It is the name given to the form of urinary incontinence that occurs as a result of the destruction of the nerves in the bladder (especially seen in diabetic patients) or due to various spinal cord lesions, as a result of the deterioration in the contraction and urine emptying functions of the bladder, causing the bladder to overflow.

Risk factors:

Obesity (obesity), age of the person, number of births, chronic constipation, smoking and sagging in the pelvic organs are among the leading risk factors for urinary incontinence. Past family history, especially in terms of urge incontinence, is also among the important risk factors.

Although cesarean births are important, they are not considered as a purely protective factor.

Points to be considered in the treatment of urinary incontinence;

It is important to quit smoking and lose weight.

Ace inhibitors, alpha blockers, anticholinergics, diuretics, lithium, sedatives and various drugs for hypertension and psychiatry can cause urge incontinence. These conditions should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence.

If the person has a history of diabetes, this situation should be controlled and blood sugar should be regulated.

If there is a urinary tract infection, it should be treated.

At least 6 to 8 glasses of water should be drunk per day.

Bladder habits and regular fluid intake are another important factor.

In the treatment of urge incontinence, more medical (drug) treatment comes to the fore.

It may be beneficial to do various exercises (Kegel exercise, etc.) to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

The use of estrogen preparations used for vaginal atrophy in patients with menopause may also be beneficial.