Female Incontinence – Causes and Treatment Options

Incontinence in women is a widespread but still taboo subject. Many affected individuals only talk about it late – out of uncertainty or shame. However, it is a medical symptom that can be treated well in most cases. Many women experience their first bladder weakness after childbirth or even during pregnancy. You can quickly counteract this with prompt remedies in the form of pelvic floor training and more.

The sooner you act, the better symptoms can be alleviated or even completely eliminated. Bladder weakness can also occur during menopause and with other hormonal changes. You are by no means alone with your symptoms and can confidently consult your general practitioner or a specialist. Gynecologists will help you identify the type and advise you on further steps. As a rule, you will be advised to use certain aids. There are various versions available.

For example, use our high-quality incontinence products for women, which can best support you with their absorbent cores and soft materials. You can easily order from our online shop from home.

Recognizing the first symptoms of incontinence in women

The first signs are often subtle. Perhaps you lose a few drops of urine when you sneeze or laugh. You may experience more frequent urges to urinate or need to get up more often at night. The symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the weakness. It is important that you can always correctly distinguish female incontinence from a bladder infection. The latter is accompanied by pain during urination and can cause fever.

Urine loss during exertion, an intense urge to urinate, and dribbling after using the toilet are more indicative of incipient bladder weakness than an infection. Nocturnal urine loss or constantly getting up due to pressure on the bladder can also be considered a symptom.

Both infections with pain and classic incontinence in women must be clarified. Only then can you be sure that you receive the necessary help. Instead of treating the symptom as a taboo subject, you should deal with it as openly as possible, just like other people and those affected. The treatment options and approaches are diverse and will certainly offer a suitable solution for you.

Tip: Look for trusted forums online. Many women exchange experiences there and can talk about uncomfortable things. We recommend that you simply take a look.

Susceptibility to female incontinence – Risks and causes

Due to their anatomy and hormonal changes, women are significantly more affected than men. The shorter urethra, more elastic connective tissue, and the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth strain the bladder muscles. Many problems that would otherwise later lead to severe urine loss can be prevented with early bladder training.

Incidentally, age, obesity, chronic coughing, or heavy physical exertion increase the risk. Although often assumed, incontinence in women is not a normal sign of aging. Even in old age, healthy muscles are capable of holding a full bladder.

You can find products for discreet support for all types of incontinence directly in our online shop. Some of them are useful during the diagnostic phase, while others can accompany you with ongoing pelvic floor weakness. For example, absorbent bed protection that prevents urine or fluid from seeping onto the mattress at night.

Pregnancy and childbirth

During pregnancy, the pelvic floor carries the additional weight of your baby. The older and larger your child becomes, the greater the strain on the pelvic floor and all other organs. The muscles are stretched and sometimes overloaded, which is normal. During a vaginal birth, they are additionally stretched and can tear. This is precisely why postpartum recovery – which is usually managed with physiotherapy – is essential.

Even if no symptoms occur immediately after birth, stress incontinence can develop years later. Postpartum recovery can help avoid stress and urge incontinence. Therefore, the earliest possible therapy after delivery is important.

Hormones and menopause

The menopause causes estrogen levels to drop in women. This is a natural process, but it can present a problem concerning urine as well as other body fluids and functions. The quality of life for many women decreases during this time. Seeking help early to begin treatment for incontinence in women and psychological distress is always a good idea.

Here, too, additional training of the pelvic floor muscles can be a good idea. It also sometimes prevents fecal incontinence. Furthermore, it strengthens the muscles throughout the lower abdomen and supports more than just the bladder.

The role of the pelvic floor in incontinence

Essentially, the pelvic floor is an elastic net in your pelvic area. It supports organs and is often under strain. In women with incontinence, when lifting or exerting themselves, the strain can become too great. Then the pressure on the bladder increases, and an urgent need to urinate arises.

Most doctors and therapists describe this as the most common form of female incontinence. Considering that the female pelvic floor is much more sensitive and used more than the male, this is not surprising. Depending on the development of the musculature, a weak pelvic floor can even cause further problems.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself early with suitable aids from our shop. Often, involuntary urine leakage is not a permanent phenomenon, and accidental bladder emptying becomes less frequent after training and using absorbent pads. Physiotherapy treatment can be supported by washable women's incontinence underwear. It catches drops and more while you train.

Types and forms of incontinence in women

Incontinence in women can occur in various forms. Some forms are more common in men, but not all. If you would like to know more about incontinence in men, please refer to our blog post on this topic. Below you will learn more about the type and form of female incontinence.

Stress incontinence in women

This form is common in women. It always occurs when the pressure on the body increases. Coughing, sneezing, laughing, and exercising can become a problem. Since the pelvic floor is usually too weak to withstand the pressure in this form, urine loss occurs.

Urge incontinence in women

Characteristic is a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to urinate. This urge is so sudden and strong that the affected person usually has no chance of reaching the toilet in time. Therefore, especially with this form, the absorbent products from our range are real lifesavers. Protect yourself and, for example, get further help from your doctor with gentle medication.

Mixed incontinence in women

In the mixed form, symptoms of urge and stress incontinence appear. Since it occurs constantly and often severely, those affected feel very restricted. However, this does not necessarily have to remain so. You can confidently consult a doctor about your urinary incontinence and get therapy. All necessary support in the form of underwear and even catheters can then be found with us!

Overflow incontinence in women

This type is somewhat rarer. It mostly affects men, as their urethra is much longer. In women, this form of incontinence is rather unlikely due to the more advantageous anatomy. Nevertheless, overflow incontinence can begin. It is characterized by the feeling of a constantly full bladder and continuous dribbling after going to the toilet.

Functional incontinence in women

Incontinence in women is functional when the bladder is actually healthy. However, other limitations and problems prevent the person from being able to urinate in time. You can observe this severe limitation in seniors or seriously injured people.

Treatment options for women with incontinence

The best treatment and therapy options depend on the type. Therefore, you should definitely expect a thorough diagnosis from your doctor and decide what help you need based on this. In addition, your gynecologist can help you find the right products from our shop. These sometimes offer highly absorbent cores and are even washable.

Conservative and surgical procedures

Get advice on training plans, weight reduction, and adjusting consumption habits. Often, a big step has been taken as soon as caffeine or alcohol are no longer consumed. For urge incontinence, you can also get help with medication.

Tip: Our modern incontinence products are discreet, breathable, and comfortable. From thin protective mattress pads for nocturnal problems to highly absorbent pants – with us, you will find everything at a fair price.