SHARES
Urinary incontinence is just too embarrassing! In fact, bladder problems are very common among women. Yet, we are too shy to talk about it.
Our silence about bladder problems make it a taboo, although it is extremely common. So ladies, here are few things you need to know more about your bladder, and realize that you are not alone.
Bladder basics
Image from Bladder and Other Urothelial Cancers Screening (PDQ®)
Bladder is a sac composed of layer of muscles in the pelvis. It is behind and above your pubic bone. Kidneys produce urine and the urine is passed down to the bladder through two tubes, ureters. The muscle lining the bladder can be stretched to store urine. Its normal capacity is 400-600 ml, about a can of water.
During urination, your bladder muscle squeeze, and the two sphincters open, to pass the urine out of your body through urethra.
Common Bladder Problems in Women
1. Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control, or leaking urine. It happens when bladder muscles suddenly squeeze and the sphincters are not strong enough the hold the urine. You will then feel a strong urge to urinate, that you are unable to control.
There are 2 common types of incontinence:
- Stress incontinence: it is common among younger women. Stress incontinence happens when there is stress act upon your bladder or urethra. The stress can come from your pelvic floor muscle. Thus, it can be triggered by activities that using your pelvic floor muscles such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, and physical activities.
- Urge incontinence: Also known as “overactive bladder”, it happens after a sudden urge to urinate before you reach your bathroom. This is more common in older women.
There are many causes of urinary incontinence e.g. caffeine intake, overweight, nerve damage. Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause are contributory factors. It is often treated with medication or lifestyle changes. It’s best that you seek advice from doctor if you are experiencing incontinence to find out the underlying cause.
2. Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is a condition where you pass urine more than normal, usually more than 7 times in a day. It is a very common condition that interferes with many women’s life. Some of the common causes are excessive drinking, anxiety, urinary tract infection, pregnancy. You should speak to your doctor to find out the underlying causes and further manage your condition accordingly to treat the underlying cause.
3. Urinary Urgency
It is a sudden and strong urge to urinate, it often happens together with frequent urination. If it is not relieved immediately, it can cause urge incontinence. The most common cause is urinary tract infection, although there are other factors such as excessive drinking, caffeine or alcohol intake, diabetes, pregnancy and so on.
4. Nocturia (Frequent Urination at Night)
Nocturia is a condition where u need to get up at night to pass urine. It can occur in any age, but more common in women who are over 60. Common causes include excessive drinking, sleep disorder, diabetes, bladder inflammation.
5. Urinary Tract Infection in Women
Urinary tract infection happens when there is bacteria present in your urine. It can happen at any part of your urinary tract. You might complain of urgency, frequency, pain during passing urine (dysuria). If left untreated, the infection can spread to your kidney and you might experience back pain, fever. So, consult a doctor if you have any symptoms. Your doctor will normally do investigation and prescribe antibiotics.
Photo by eflon from Flickr
Conclusion
Bladder problems is troublesome and have a drastic effect on women’s quality of life. It is common and shouldn’t be a shame to talk about. Taking care of your bladder is a way of loving yourself. So seek professional help as specialists would be able to help with different solutions tailored to your situation, such as lifestyle changes, bladder training, medication, surgery.
Find a GP/Family Doctor and Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in Malaysia, on GetDoc
Find a GP/Family Doctor and Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in Singapore, on GetDoc
References
- The top 5 female bladder problems [Internet]. AOA. 2019 [Available from: http://www.aoafamily.com/blog/the-top-5-female-bladder-problems/; last updated on 2019 June 18; last accessed on 2020 Jan 14]
- Thiam Chye T, Kim Teng T, Heng Hao T, Chee Seng T. Urinary tract infection(uti) in women: what is it and how to manage [Internet]. SingHealth. 2020 [Available from: https://www.healthxchange.sg/women/urology/urinary-tract-infection-uti-what-how-manage; last accessed on 2020 Jan 14]
by Chang Xian
View all articles by Chang Xian.
