If you’re currently dealing with a leaky bladder at inconvenient times throughout your day, you know it can be a hassle. This pesky problem can even be embarrassing in some situations. Urinary incontinence is a common issue for women that occurs for various reasons, including weakened muscles due to pregnancy, weight gain or age. While the condition can be a pain, there are ways to manage female incontinence, both on your own and with help from our team at South Lake OB/GYN.
Drink Less
It may seem obvious, but it truly is important to limit your beverage intake if you want to have fewer leaks. In particular, alcohol and caffeine are major culprits when it comes to urine production. It is still important to stay adequately hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of liquid per day, otherwise you could end up with concentrated urine that irritates the lining of the bladder. An irritated bladder will actually worsen your incontinence. Try not to drink after a certain time if you have more leakage at night.
Exercise Your Pelvic Floor
It’s the pelvic floor muscles that help to hold urine in. When they’re weak, you’re bound to have problems. Kegel exercises can help to strengthen these muscles. Our team can help you learn how to do these correctly. The key to doing them is to contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles as if you’re holding in a stream of urine, then letting it go.
Medical Intervention
Often times, self-management methods are not enough to handle your female incontinence issues. If so, our team can provide options. We have a variety of behavioral exercises, medicines, injectable treatments and physiotherapy options available, depending on the type of incontinence you have. There are also various types of surgeries available for female incontinence, should other methods be insufficient. Surgical intervention is typically saved as a last-resort.
If you think excess weight may be a contributor, you could also talk to our team about a sensible weight loss program. There is help for this issue. Be sure to consult with our professionals to help you develop a safe and effective treatment plan.
Talk to Our Team of Experts
The team at South Lake OB/GYN in Clermont wants to help you manage your female incontinence. You shouldn’t have to live with such an embarrassing, inconvenient condition. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation to learn more about your options for treatment.