Three Steps to Avoid Urinary Leakage Accidents
While there are many ways to avoid leaking urine while you are out and about, here are three of the simplest steps that will help you stay dry.
Step 1: Stick to a Bathroom Schedule
By now scouting bathroom locations might be second nature for you. Since you have taken such pains to find bathrooms everywhere you go, maximize the “map of bathrooms” in your head by using those bathrooms on a schedule.
To make use of a bathroom schedule, you first have to figure out how long you can go between bathroom visits. To find out, time yourself during the day. If you can hold your urine for about an hour before you absolutely must go, then start with a bathroom schedule that has you going to the bathroom every hour, whether you feel the need to go or not.
Once you can stick to the hour-long bathroom schedule, your next goal is to extend the gaps in your bathroom schedule by 10 minutes. For instance, if your current bathroom schedule is on an hourly basis, extend the time between visits by 10 minutes, so that you are visiting the bathroom every 70 minutes. Keep extending the gaps between bathroom breaks in this way until you are going to the bathroom every 2-3 hours.
Finally, be sure to stick to your schedule. Congratulations, you have just trained your bladder by using a bathroom schedule. As a result, you should be able to avoid embarrassing urine leakage accidents.
Step 2: Take Your Time in the Bathroom
Once you’ve got a bathroom schedule down pat, the next step is to take your time in the bathroom and practice something called “double voiding.” To double void, urinate and then relax for a bit. Then urinate again. This is double voiding, and ensures that you really empty your bladder. You may be experiencing leakage accidents because you don’t fully empty your bladder when you urinate. Taking your time when you are in the bathroom and practicing double voiding will help you avoid urine leakage accidents.
Step 3: Try the Tampon Trick
This last step is as simple as it is effective – just wear a tampon to decrease urine leakage. A tampon exerts pressure on the urethra, and adds a little extra support “down there.” Wearing a tampon is especially useful to avoid leakage accidents when you jog, exercise, or participate in activities that usually cause leakage.
Simple Solutions for Women’s Urinary Incontinence
Conservative tips like the ones mentioned in this article help many women with urinary incontinence avoid leakage accidents. Of course, not all tips works for all women all the time, but these simple tips are worth a try. Remember, with conservative therapies for women’s urinary incontinence, you might have to try a variety of options (or combination of options) before you find what works for you. The key is to be persistent and not give up!
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