Leaky Bladder in Women
If you’re a woman who suffers from a leaky bladder, or urinary incontinence, you know how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, you can seek help from a urologist or urogynecologist.
When’s the Best Time to Seek Help?
It’s important to schedule an appointment with a specialist if your leaky bladder is being caused by an underlying medical condition. Other reasons to request an appointment include:
- Being embarrassed about the issue
- Your leaky bladder is starting to impact your ability to take part in different activities
- You need to urinate multiple times throughout the night, which is causing exhaustion from lack of sleep
- Even when you urinate, you feel like you’re unable to empty your bladder
What is Causing my Leaky Bladder?
The cause of a leaky bladder depends on the person. Here are a few reasons you could be having bladder control problems:
- There is an infection in the bladder
- Smoking can cause bladder leakage
- Weak pelvic muscles due to childbirth and age
- Obesity
Treating a Leaky Bladder
More often than not, a leaky bladder is caused by weak pelvic muscles. There are a few methods your urologist or urogynecologist may suggest in order to improve your pelvic muscles, including:
- Regular cardio exercise, such as brisk walks, eventually prevent bladder control problems
- Pelvic stimulation using electricity to contract pelvic muscles
- Kegel exercises
- Weight training by putting a small weight in the vagina
- Modifying diet by limiting caffeinated drinks and diet soda
For more information on urinary incontinence, visit our urinary incontinence health library page or call us at (415) 923-3123 for an appointment.