How Can I Manage Urinary Incontinence?

Do you use medications to control urinary incontinence prescribed by your doctor?

Have you reduced your intake of caffeine (which can be found in tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, and hot chocolate) and alcohol?

Do you drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day (but no more than that)?

If you are overweight, are you trying to lose weight?

Do you avoid straining during bowel movements and do everything you can (exercise, eat fiber-rich food) to prevent constipation?

Do you avoid exercises like sit-ups, aerobics, running and weightlifting?

Do you do Kegel exercises, or did your doctor recommend electrical stimulation?

Has your doctor recommended any of the behavioral techniques (bladder training, double rinsing, or scheduled toilet trips)?

If you are a smoker, have you stopped smoking?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you manage urinary incontinence. You should drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, but no more than that. Do not avoid drinking fluids, as this can reduce your bladder capacity and worsen incontinence. Reduced fluid intake also contributes to constipation, which will cause you to strain during bowel movements, putting extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, which will further contribute to incontinence. Reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol which are diuretics (they promote urination). If you are overweight, you should lose weight to decrease the pressure on the bladder.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to manage urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor muscle training (Kegel exercises) is an effective way to reduce incontinence, but it often takes at least 3 months to see results. If you cannot tighten the pelvic floor muscles, your doctor may recommend electrical stimulation. You can also try bladder training to delay urination (try to hold for 10 minutes every time you feel the need to urinate). Also, you should try to avoid exercises that put a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, such as sit-ups, aerobics, running or lifting weights. Do not smoke because coughing worsens incontinence.