Women’s Urinary Incontinence: Have You Tried Acupuncture?

Most of us have probably heard of acupuncture as a conservative treatment option for all kinds of health issues, from migraine headaches to digestive issues. Did you know that this ancient Chinese healing technique has also been shown to be an effective conservative treatment for women’s urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP)?

The Slushy for Urinary Incontinence

If you have women’s urinary incontinence then you are probably familiar with a long list of things you can and can’t eat and drink. For instance, caffeinated drinks and acidic foods are definitely on the “don’t touch” list.On the other hand, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables top the list of foods you should eat. And while you may be very diligent about what you eat and drink, there are times when you may find yourself lapsing from your prescribed diet.

Kegels: Learning to Put Your Pelvic Floor Muscles on Auto-Pilot

Here’s something you may not know about a healthy pelvic floor muscles: they work on auto-pilot!What do we mean by this? We mean that healthy pelvic floor muscles automatically work in concert to keep urine in your bladder until you choose to urinate. They also work together when you go to the bathroom to allow urine to flow until the bladder is empty.

Yes, Kegels DO Work When Done Correctly and Appropriately

Yeah, yeah … we’ve heard it all. Women tell us (a urologist and a physical therapist specializing in women’s pelvic health) that they do Kegels or other pelvic floor exercises to no avail. “Kegels don’t work” for women’s urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or decreased sexual sensation. We hear that all the time.

Women’s Urinary Incontinence: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

If you leak urine, whether a little or a lot, chances are that you have asked yourself whether you are “normal” or not. Many women mistakenly assume that urinary incontinence is a “normal” part of aging.
Guess what? Women’s urinary incontinence is NOT normal at any age. A healthy bladder does not leak urine. So if you are wondering whether you are “normal,” here are 5 questions to ask yourself:

Are You From Venus? Women with Urinary Incontinence May Feel Like They Are

Many of us have read the book “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” … and for many of us the book made a lot of sense. Men and women are very different, from the way they think to the way they talk. VERY different.Well guess what? Women with urinary incontinence may feel the same way about their doctors as they feel about men—that both men and doctors are from Mars!

Women’s Urinary Incontinence: 4 Helpful Smartphone Apps

A couple of years ago we blogged about a helpful restroom-locator smartphone app.  Back then, these kinds of apps were few and far between. In fact, the most useful one we found was Sit or Squat.. At that time, this appeared to be an independent app that worked a lot like any public domain app—you took what was helpful, and hopefully left some helpful information, too.Since then, the app has been taken over by Charmin, which makes sense if you think about the integral role that toilet paper plays in women’s urinary incontinence! The name has changed, but the features remain the same or better. You can still access restroom locations, review restrooms, and add comments.

Feel Like You are Sitting on a Ball?

 

If you feel like you are sitting on a ball sometimes (even though you are not!) or maybe just feel like you parts are “falling out down there,” then chances are that you have pelvic organ prolapse, also called POP.With POP, your parts down south are literally succumbing to gravity. Talk about the “fallout” associated with aging-as if wrinkles and that hard-to-get-rid-of underarm fat aren’t enough!But here’s the thing-you are not alone and the condition is definitely treatable.

Have Pelvic Organ Prolapse? Consider Using a Pessary

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Are things “popping” out down there? If you suffer from pelvic organ prolapse, otherwise known as POP, then chances are that you are far from comfortable. Women with POP can experience symptoms such as a falling sensation in the pelvis, backaches, painful intercourse and more.Click HERE for a more complete list of POP symptoms.There are four common types of POP: cystocele (bladder prolapse), rectocele (prolapse of the rectum or large bowel), enterocele (prolapse of the small bowel), and uterine prolapse.

7 Tips for Coping with Urine Leakage During Exercise

Do you have to bring an extra towel with you to your cardio class to “mop up” the urine you leak when you jump, step, or kick?

That can be embarrassing, not to mention discouraging to even the most optimistic of women. Yet women’s urinary incontinence keeps many ladies from exercising as much as they would like.

Women’s Urinary Incontinence: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

If you leak urine, whether a little or a lot, chances are that you have asked yourself whether you are “normal” or not. Many women mistakenly assume that urinary incontinence is a “normal” part of aging.Guess what? Women’s urinary incontinence is NOT normal at any age. A healthy bladder does not leak urine. So if you are wondering whether you are “normal,” here are 5 questions to ask yourself:#1: Does your bladder function normally?
A healthy bladder can hold about 2 cups of fluid comfortably for 2 to 5 hours. Can your bladder do that?

#2: Did your women’s urinary incontinence start with menopause?
While urine leakage often accompanies menopause, it is not normal. Luckily, there are many medications and conservative options to help with urinary incontinence that occurs with menopause.

#3: Do you urinate more than 6 to 8 times daily?
If you have a healthy urinary system, you should urinate no more than 6 to 8 times per day. If you have to urinate more frequently, then you may be suffering from overactive bladder (OAB), also called urge urinary incontinence. You may wish to keep a voiding diary to track how many times a day you have to urinate. The results may surprise you.

#4: Are you “coping” well with your slight urine leakage?
Many women assume that if their urine leakage is slight and that they can cope with it using absorbent pads, they don’t have a problem. Unfortunately, any amount of urine leakage isn’t normal. Of course, all of us have experienced “wet panties” once in a while when we laugh way too hard. But if you leak urine regularly, then it’s time to call your doctor for help.

#5: Do you urinate “just in case”?
If you visit the bathroom before every movie or before sitting down to most meals “just in case” you might have to go later, you are practicing what is called “defensive voiding.” Defensive voiding is a sign of women’s urinary incontinence, and can be a sign of overactive bladder (OAB) or urge urinary incontinence. If so, talk to your doctor about conservative measures you can take so you don’t have to practice defensive voiding. You’ll find it quite a relief …plus you’ll enjoy movies and meals much more!

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Yes, Kegels DO Work When Done Correctly and Appropriately

Yeah, yeah … we’ve heard it all. Women tell us (a urologist and a physical therapist specializing in women’s pelvic health) that they do Kegels or other pelvic floor exercises to no avail. “Kegels don’t work” for women’s urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or decreased sexual sensation. We hear that all the time.But Kegels do work, and research proves it.

What Research Shows About Kegels
Kegels and other pelvic floor exercises, when done correctly and appropriately, are an effective first line therapy for the conditions listed above. For instance, research shows the following statistics when women with the following conditions follow an appropriate pelvic floor exercise program:

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence: 73% cure rate; when paired with other conservative therapies (like medication) the rate goes up to 97%
  • Overactive Bladder or Urge Incontinence: reduced feeling of urgency; decreased number of leakage incidents and the need to urinate at night
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse: less severe symptoms; can delay onset of prolapse; increase pelvic muscle strength
  • Decreased Sexual Sensation: decreased urinary leakage during sex; increased desire and orgasms in non-orgasmic women; post-partum women report increased sexual satisfaction
The research clearly shows that Kegels, or pelvic muscle exercise programs, do work. So what’s up with all the women saying that Kegels don’t work?What You May Not Know About Kegels
Pelvic exercise programs are like any other exercise program: they have to be done correctly and appropriately. What do we mean by “correctly and appropriately”?

Let’s start with the term “correct.” Did you know that 50% of women cannot do a correct pelvic floor muscle contraction following only written instructions? These women either engage the wrong muscles (such as the buttocks or thighs) or actually push their pelvic muscles down and out rather than pulling them upwards and inwards, which is correct. In this single statistic, we have half the female population unable to do a correct Kegel … so of course the exercise program is going to prove ineffective. The same result would happen if you did an incorrect lunge or squat at the gym. You  wouldn’t get the desired results, and you could even injure yourself.

Now let’s talk about the word “appropriate.” Some pelvic floor exercise programs have women doing as many as 200 Kegels, or contractions, per session, and up to three sessions per day. This is way too many contractions, and can lead to hyper-toning of the pelvic muscles. Hypertonic pelvic muscles can lead to pelvic pain and other pelvic floor issues. In addition, this number and frequency of contractions is usually not appropriate for the average woman’s level of pelvic floor muscle tone.

To be “appropriate,” a pelvic floor muscle exercise program has to first assess your current level of pelvic fitness, and then start you with a matching number of pelvic floor contractions for the appropriate length of time. Assuming that all women can do the same number of of Kegels for the same length of time is like assuming that all women are capable of successfully participating in a tri-athalon today. It’s just not true and it is just not going to happen. Some women will be able to do three sets of 10 contractions from the beginning, while other women may need to start with just three contractions of only four seconds length. The exercise program has to be appropriate to your current level of pelvic fitness.

How Kegels Can Work for You
If you want to successfully use Kegels or pelvic floor contractions to reduce symptoms of women’s urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or decreased sexual sensation, start by assessing your pelvic floor strength. Learn how with our ebook, which not only gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do a correct pelvic floor contraction, but helps you troubleshoot potential problems. Then you will be on your way to success with Kegels and realize that, yes, they really DO work!

Check out the “What’s Up Down There?” ebook here.

If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to leave a comment, contact us, download our ebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Are You From Venus? Women with Urinary Incontinence May Feel Like They Are

Many of us have read the book “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” … and for many of us the book made a lot of sense. Men and women are very different, from the way they think to the way they talk. VERY different.Well guess what? Women with urinary incontinence may feel the same way about their doctors as they feel about men—that both men and doctors are from Mars!

Yes, the communication signals between women and their doctors can become THAT garbled when it comes to discussing urinary incontinence.

Are You Ready to Be Shocked?
When you first learn the statistics associated with women’s urinary incontinence, you may find them shocking. Here are a few that may surprise you:

– Two-thirds of all women with urinary incontinence never seek help
– Of the women who seek help, most wait on average more than 6 years for asking for help
– Despite low-cost conservative therapies that could alleviate symptoms, many women prefer spending between $1,000 and $1,500 per year on laundry, adult diapers and other coping mechanism rather get help from their doctor
– The primary reason women cite for not seeking help is embarrassment in discussing the issue

And if the above statistics about women’s urinary incontinence isn’t enough to have you fidgeting in your seat, check out these facts about the communication between women and their doctors on the topic of urinary incontinence.

Lost in Translation: The Discussion about Women’s Urinary Incontinence
If a woman does actually work up the nerve to speak with her doctor about her urinary incontinence, chances are that she may run into an unintentional communication roadblock with her doctor. Here’s how the conversation might go.

1. A family doctor or primary physician likely will not bring up the issue of pelvic health (studies show that doctors in the US, UK, and Germany all felt they had less time than needed for a full and thorough intake, including questions about a woman’s pelvic health).

2. If a woman does raise the issue of her urinary incontinence, however boldly or subtly, and the physician does not offer a direct response, the woman is likely to never raise the subject with this or any doctor again. The woman perceives the lack of response as a negative response.

3. If the doctor does respond to a woman’s query about her urinary incontinence, the physician is unlikely to have enough time to adequately explore the issue or educate the woman about her condition.

Wow, can you say “Venus … and Mars?” Unless the woman persists in raising the issue (and most women will not), the topic of urinary incontinence is dropped forever, dooming the woman to suffer in silence! In addition, research indicates that the woman is likely to rate her experience with the doctor poorly, even if there is a short discussion about urinary incontinence, because the woman will likely judge the educational period to be inadequate. And patients tend to rate the importance of physician-offered health education second only to clinical skill. With physician “report card” websites sprouting up all over the internet, this could not only drastically impact a physician’s credibility, but also fail to provide the woman with the help she needs.

What Does This Mean For You?
With the kind of interaction we described as being likely to occur, this means that you need to be a much stronger advocate for your own pelvic health than most women. You need to persist in seeking help for your urinary incontinence, keep asking questions, and don’t stop looking for a healthcare provider until you find the help you need. There is no right and wrong in the interaction we describe above. The system is simply not set up to accommodate this particular issue at this particular time, especially when it comes to working with your primary doctor.

But you can make a difference in your own life. If you don’t get the answers you need from your primary doctor, ask for a referral to a specialist, such as a urologist, urogynecologist, or a physical therapist specializing in women’s pelvic health. Plus, here are some articles that can help you talk to your doctor effectively to get the help you need for your women’s urinary incontinence:

How to Find the Right Doctor to Treat Your Urinary Incontinence
3 Steps to Prepare for Your Doctor’s Appointment
Lost in Translation? Getting Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to leave a comment, contact us, download our ebook, or follow us on Twitter.