Mixed Incontinence Treatment Causes and Symptoms

Mixed Incontinence Treatment

Mixed incontinence is a common, yet often misunderstood, condition that affects millions of people worldwide, especially among older women. Characterized by a combination of both stress incontinence and urge incontinence, mixed incontinence can result in urine leakage when you cough or during stressful situations, leading to involuntary urine loss and have a significant impact on quality of life.

Fortunately, modern treatments and therapies offer hope and improvement. In this article, we’ll explore the mixed incontinence treatment and symptoms, delve into the underlying causes, and discuss the most effective treatments available, including those offered by DSM Healthy Skin Basingstoke.

What is Mixed Incontinence Basingstoke?

Mixed incontinence occurs when an individual experiences both stress incontinence and urge incontinence simultaneously.

  • Stress Incontinence: This happens when physical movements or activities, such as sneezing, laughing, or exercising, put pressure on the bladder, causing involuntary leakage of urine.
  • Urge Incontinence: This condition is marked by a sudden, intense urge to urinate, often resulting in involuntary leakage before reaching the bathroom.

When these two forms combine, the result is mixed incontinence treatment—a challenging condition that requires careful diagnosis and treatment to manage both types of incontinence effectively.

Symptoms of Mixed Incontinence

Understanding the symptoms is the first step toward finding relief from mixed incontinence. Symptoms typically include:

  • Involuntary Urine Leakage: You may notice urine leaks during physical exertion, such as lifting objects, laughing, or sneezing.
  • Sudden Urge to Urinate: This intense and unexpected need to urinate can occur frequently, often without warning.
  • Frequent Bathroom Visits: Individuals with mixed incontinence may need to use the bathroom more often due to an inability to hold their bladder.
  • Nocturia: Waking up at night with the urgent need to urinate is a common symptom for those with urge incontinence.
  • Emotional and Social Distress: Many sufferers experience anxiety, embarrassment, or social withdrawal due to fear of accidents or leakage in public.
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DSM is home to several specialized clinics and healthcare providers that offer treatments for incontinence

Causes of Mixed Incontinence

The exact causes of mixed incontinence can vary from person to person, but several factors commonly contribute:

  • Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles: Over time, the muscles that support the bladder can weaken due to childbirth, aging, or surgery, leading to both types of incontinence.
  • Nerve Damage: Conditions like diabetes or neurological disorders can impair bladder function, contributing to urge incontinence.
  • Hormonal Changes: For women, menopause and the accompanying drop in estrogen levels can weaken the pelvic floor and bladder muscles, increasing the risk of incontinence.
  • Obesity: Excess weight puts additional pressure on the bladder, leading to stress incontinence and making urge incontinence more likely.
  • Chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Recurrent UTIs can cause bladder irritation, leading to mixed symptoms of incontinence.

Diagnosing Mixed Incontinence Basingstoke

Diagnosing mixed incontinence requires a comprehensive approach to identify the presence of both stress and urge incontinence. Since mixed incontinence involves a combination of symptoms from these two types of incontinence, proper diagnosis is essential to tailor an effective treatment plan. Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Medical History and Symptom Discussion

The first step in diagnosing mixed incontinence treatment is discussing the patient’s medical history and symptoms with a healthcare provider. This involves:

  • Symptom Description: Patients will be asked to describe their symptoms, such as when leakage occurs (during physical activities or when feeling an urgent need to urinate).
  • Triggers: Healthcare providers will inquire about situations that trigger leakage, such as coughing, sneezing, or urgency-related incidents.
  • Previous Health Conditions: History of surgeries, childbirth, neurological conditions, or chronic diseases like diabetes that may affect bladder control.
  • Current Medications: Certain medications can influence bladder function, and a doctor will evaluate their potential impact.

2. Bladder Diary

A bladder diary is often used to track daily urinary habits over a period of time (usually 3-7 days). This includes noting:

  • Fluid Intake: How much liquid is consumed and when.
  • Urination Frequency: How often one goes to the bathroom.
  • Episodes of Leakage: When leakage occurs, what triggers it, and the amount lost.
  • Urgency Episodes: Tracking the intensity of urges and any accidents associated with them.
  • This information provides a detailed picture of how the bladder functions throughout the day.

3. Physical Examination

A physical exam, especially for women, will involve a pelvic exam to assess the health of the pelvic floor muscles. For men, a rectal exam may be performed to check prostate health. These evaluations help determine:

  • Pelvic Muscle Strength: Weak pelvic muscles often contribute to stress incontinence.
  • Signs of Prolapse or Nerve Damage: Conditions like pelvic organ prolapse or nerve issues can be involved in incontinence.
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Urinalysis and Other Laboratory Tests

A urinalysis may be done to rule out underlying infections, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), that could be causing or exacerbating incontinence symptoms. Blood tests may also be used to check for conditions like diabetes, which can affect bladder function.

Urodynamic Testing

Urodynamic tests are used to assess how well the bladder holds and empties urine. These tests measure:

  • Bladder Pressure: To evaluate how much pressure builds in the bladder as it fills and whether leakage occurs when pressure increases.
  • Bladder Function: To check if the bladder muscles contract properly when it’s time to empty.
  • Flow Rate: Measuring the speed and volume of urine flow to assess the overall function of the urinary tract.

Cystoscopy

In some cases, a cystoscopy may be performed. This procedure involves inserting a thin tube with a camera into the urethra to visually inspect the bladder and urinary tract for abnormalities like blockages, tumors, or structural issues that could contribute to mixed incontinence treatment.

Post-Void Residual Measurement

A post-void residual (PVR) test measures how much urine remains in the bladder after urination. This test helps identify whether the bladder is emptying completely or if there’s a retention issue contributing to incontinence.

Mixed Incontinence Treatment Basingstoke

Mixed Incontinence Treatment requires addressing both stress incontinence and urge incontinence, as these two forms occur together. The goal of treatment is to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, manage bladder function, and reduce involuntary leakage through the vagina.

The best way to approach the treatment will depend on the severity of your incontinence and may include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor therapy, medical treatments, and in some cases, different surgeries. Here’s an overview of the various treatment options:

1. Lifestyle Changes

Simple modifications to daily habits can significantly improve symptoms of mixed incontinence. These changes focus on reducing bladder irritation and strengthening bladder control.

Bladder Training

Bladder training helps improve control over the urge to urinate. This involves:

  • Timed Voiding: Scheduling bathroom visits at regular intervals (e.g., every 2-4 hours) to reduce urgency and leakage.
  • Delay Urination: Gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to stretch bladder capacity.

Dietary Adjustments

Certain foods and beverages can irritate the bladder, making symptoms worse. Avoid:

  • Caffeine: Found in coffee, tea, and some sodas, caffeine can increase urine production and bladder irritation.
  • Alcohol: Alcohol can irritate the bladder and exacerbate incontinence.
  • Spicy or Acidic Foods: Foods like citrus fruits and spicy dishes can worsen bladder sensitivity.

Weight Loss

Excess weight places added pressure on the bladder and pelvic muscles, which can lead to stress incontinence. Losing weight can reduce this pressure and alleviate symptoms.

2. Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels)

Pelvic floor muscle exercises, also known as Kegels, are one of the most effective non-invasive mixed incontinence treatment. These exercises strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and urethra, improving both stress and urge incontinence.

How to Perform Kegel Exercises:

  • Identify the Muscles: The pelvic floor muscles are the same ones used to stop urination midstream.
  • Contract and Hold: Squeeze these muscles, hold for 5-10 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10-15 times, several times a day.

Over time, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can help reduce urine leakage during activities that cause stress incontinence, like sneezing or exercising, and improve bladder control for urge incontinence.

Mixed Incontinence

3. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)

At DSM Healthy Skin Basingstoke, EMS UIT (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) therapy is offered as an advanced mixed incontinence treatment. This therapy involves using electrical currents to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles, helping to strengthen them and improve bladder control.

EMS UIT is one of the non surgical treatments available to help with bladder problems

Benefits of EMS UIT Therapy:

  • Non-Invasive: EMS UIT therapy is painless and requires no surgery.
  • Strengthens Muscles: By stimulating the pelvic muscles, it helps restore strength and function, reducing both stress and urge incontinence.
  • Improves Bladder Control: EMS UIT can help reduce the frequency of urinary urges and leakage incidents.

4. Medications

Medications are often used to manage the symptoms of urge incontinence, which is a component of mixed incontinence treatment. These drugs work by calming the bladder muscles and reducing the frequency of bladder contractions.

Common Medications for Urge Incontinence:

  • Anticholinergics: These medications, such as oxybutynin and tolterodine, help relax the bladder muscles, reducing the urge to urinate.
  • Beta-3 Adrenergic Agonists (Mirabegron): These medications increase bladder capacity, allowing it to hold more urine and reducing the frequency of bathroom trips.

For stress incontinence, medications are less commonly prescribed, but topical estrogen (for women) may be used to strengthen the tissues of the bladder and urethra, especially post-menopause.

5. Surgical Treatments

For severe cases of mixed incontinence that do not respond to conservative treatments, surgery may be an option. Surgical options for incontinence focus on providing support to the bladder and urethra.

Sling Procedure

The sling procedure involves placing a synthetic or natural sling under the urethra to provide additional support, preventing leakage during activities that trigger stress incontinence.

Bladder Neck Suspension

This surgery involves lifting and securing the bladder neck and urethra to prevent leakage during physical movements. This is most often used to treat stress incontinence.

Botox Injections

Botox can be injected into the bladder muscles to help control the bladder’s overactivity, reducing the urge to urinate. This is often used when other treatments for urge incontinence have not been effective.

6. Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback is a technique that helps patients gain better control over their pelvic muscles. During biofeedback therapy, sensors are placed on the body to measure muscle activity. Patients can then learn how to properly contract and relax their pelvic floor muscles, which can help improve bladder control.

7. Incontinence Pads and Protective Garments

While undergoing treatment, incontinence pads and protective garments can help manage symptoms. These products are designed to absorb leaks and provide comfort, allowing individuals to go about their daily activities with confidence.

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FAQs: Treating Mixed Incontinence Basingstoke

What is mixed incontinence?

Mixed incontinence is when a person experiences symptoms of both stress incontinence (leakage during activities like coughing or exercising) and urge incontinence (sudden, intense need to urinate).

How can I manage mixed incontinence at home?

You can manage mixed incontinence with bladder training, pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), and dietary changes, such as reducing caffeine and alcohol intake.

Are pelvic floor exercises effective for mixed incontinence treatment?

Yes, pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) are highly effective in strengthening the muscles that control urination and can help improve both stress and urge incontinence.

What is EMS UIT therapy, and how does it help with incontinence?

EMS UIT (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) therapy uses electrical currents to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improving bladder control and reducing urine leakage.

When should I consider surgery for mixed incontinence treatment?

Surgery is usually considered when other treatments, like pelvic floor exercises and medications, have not provided relief and the incontinence is severely affecting your quality of life.

Can medications help treat mixed incontinence?

Yes, medications can help, particularly for urge incontinence. Drugs like anticholinergics or beta-3 adrenergic agonists can calm bladder muscle contractions.

Can alternative therapies such as acupuncture or herbal remedies help with mixed incontinence?

While alternative therapies like acupuncture or herbal remedies may offer some relief for mixed incontinence symptoms, their effectiveness varies. Always consult with your healthcare provider before trying any alternative treatments to ensure they are safe and suitable for your specific condition.

Book Your Appointment

Mixed incontinence can feel overwhelming, but with the right treatment plan, it is manageable. Whether through lifestyle adjustments, pelvic floor exercises, EMS UIT therapy, medications including vaginal estrogen, or surgery, numerous solutions can help improve your quality of life. DSM Healthy Skin Basingstoke offers specialized treatments like EMS UIT therapy to help you regain control and confidence.

If you’re struggling with mixed incontinence, consider consulting with a healthcare provider at DSM Healthy Skin Basingstoke to explore your treatment options today.