Health

Your Ultimate Guide To Urinary Incontinence In Singapore

Kathleen Webb

Have you experienced having accidents while laughing? Perhaps, you had released your pee even before you reached the bathroom? These could be signs of urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Toilet training is one of the milestones toddlers need to fulfil as they grow up. Generally, toddlers learn how to control their bladder and bowel at two years old. By this age, wearing diapers is completely optional and situational.

At the age of 65, people start to lose control of their bladder, also known as urinary incontinence in Singapore. It occurs naturally due to the age factor.

Some adults in their 20s and 40s experience urinary incontinence being a pregnancy complication. This type of urinary incontinence is temporary and can be treated throughdiastasis recti exercises and procedures from a postnatal care provider in Singapore.

It only proves that urinary incontinence can affect everyone and anyone. The good news is most cases of urinary incontinence are curable. Learn more about urinary incontinence here.

An Overview Of The Different Types Of Urinary Incontinence In Singapore

Urinary incontinence in Singapore is a condition where the person loses bladder control resulting in the involuntary leakage of urine.

There are six types of urinary incontinence. They differ in causes, symptoms, treatment, and risk factors.

Here are the four primary types of urinary incontinence in Singapore:

STRESS INCONTINENCE

When you laugh, cough, jump, and sneeze and your urine suddenly leaks, it is a sign of stress urinary incontinence in Singapore. Stress incontinence happens during an activity or movement that requires force exertion from the abdomen.

Causes

The primary cause of stress incontinence is weakened and damaged urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles.

The urethral sphincters are muscles that control the flow of urine from the urinary bladder to the urethra.

On the other hand, the pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that support the uterus, bowel, and bladder. The pelvic muscles contract and restrict the urethra to prevent urine leakage. It relaxes when the person is peeing.

When the urethral sphincters are weak, it opens the path between the urinary bladder and the urethra. Pelvic floor muscles contract loosely when wimpy; thus, the urine leaks during force exertion, resulting in stress urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Symptoms

Urine leakage happens when:

  • Exercising
  • Laughing
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Weight lifting
  • Having sex

Risk Factors

●      Age

The pelvic floor muscles weaken as people age.

●      Pregnancy and normal child delivery

The weight of the foetus inside the womb and vaginal delivery weaken the pelvic floor muscles, causing postpartum urinary incontinence in Singapore.

●      Obesity

Excess weight increases pressure in the pelvis.

●      Pelvic surgeries

People who have undergone pelvic surgeries may weaken their pelvic floor muscles.

Treatment

URGE INCONTINENCE (OVERACTIVE BLADDER)

If you have a strong urge to pee, but your bladder is not full yet, or you just peed a few minutes ago, it can be a sign of urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Causes

Urge incontinence happens due to the abnormal contraction of the bladder.

The several reasons behind abnormal contraction of the bladder include nerve damage, damaged spinal cord, and irritated bladder.

Several conditions, such as stroke, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease, cause nerve problems and affect the control of the sphincter muscles of the urethra.

Similarly, spinal cord damage can also cause control problems.

Bladder irritation due to several foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, and spicy food, causes temporary urgeurinary incontinence in Singapore.

Symptoms

  • Sudden strong urge to urinate
  • Urine leakage while asleep

Risk Factors

●      Existing nerve conditions

People with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and who have experienced a stroke are prone to urgeurinary incontinence in Singapore.

●      Urinary tract infection (UTI)

UTI causes bladder irritation.

●      Prostate conditions

Prostate cancer and enlarged prostate can affect bladder control.

Treatment

  • Medication
  • Nerve stimulation
  • Surgery

OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE

OVERFLOW-INCONTINENCE

If you experience urine leakage between bathroom breaks with or without the urge to micturate, it could be a sign of overflowurinary incontinence in Singapore.

Causes

Overflow incontinence happens when the urinary bladder is never empty due to a blockage that prevents the urine from flowing from the bladder to the urethra.

When the urinary bladder overfills, it forces the urethra to open, causing a leakage.

Bladder stones, constipation, enlarged prostate, tumour due to prostate cancer, and narrowing of the urethra cause the blockage.

Nerve conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, inhibit the ability of the person to sense a full bladder, leading to overflow urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles prevents the person from squeezing the bladder correctly, hence, not completely emptying the bladder.

Symptoms

  • Frequent, small urination
  • Involuntary dribbling of urine
  • Recurring UTI
  • The fullness of the bladder after micturating
  • Weak urine stream

Risk Factors

  • Nerve condition
  • Prostate problems
  • Certain medications, such as atypical antipsychotics
  • Weak pelvic floor muscles due to the divarication of recti

Treatment

  • Bladder training
  • Medication
  • Incontinence devices
  • Surgery

FUNCTIONAL INCONTINENCE

If the person’s disabilities inhibit them from using the bathroom when needed, leading to accidents, it is functional urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Causes

The causes of functional incontinence can be physical or mental disability and impairment. Environmental factors also cause functional incontinence.

Physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, injuries, and arthritis can cause involuntary urine leakage.

Firstly, they may have difficulty accessing the bathroom, thus peeing without reaching the toilet.

Secondly, having difficulty with their clothing or stripping makes it difficult for the person to fight the urge to urinate.

Mental disorders, such as dementia and intellectual disability, can also cause functional urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Dementia makes people forget where the bathroom is, therefore failing to reach them before the involuntary leakage. People with intellectual disabilities may also struggle to find a bathroom.

Symptoms

  • Frequent accidents during the day
  • Urine leakage due to failure to reach the toilet in time

Risk Factors

  • Physical disabilities, such as injuries, arthritis, and cerebral palsy
  • Intellectual disabilities, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Certain medications like sedatives can cause functional urinary incontinence in Singapore.

Treatment

  • Incontinence devices
  • Toilet aids and signages
  • Bladder training and schedule

Takeaway

Like thedivarication of rectiand postpartum belly, all types of urinary incontinence are manageable through routines and treatment. It is essential to consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis of urinary incontinence and proper treatment.

Orchard Clinic

Orchard Clinic providespostnatal care services in Singapore,including urinary incontinence treatments. Visit Orchard Clinic today.