Bladder leakage can be frustrating, especially when it affects your daily life. You might leak urine when you laugh or cough, or suddenly need to rush to the bathroom.
Urinary incontinence becomes more common as women get older, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. There are several treatments for urinary incontinence in older women. The right one depends on what’s causing the leakage.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Older Women?
As you get older, changes in your body can make it harder to control your bladder. The muscles that support your bladder may weaken, especially after pregnancy and childbirth.
Other possible causes include:
- Hormone changes after menopause
- Certain medications
- Constipation
- Health problems that affect your bladder or nerves
- Trouble getting to the bathroom in time
Sometimes, more than one problem causes bladder leakage.
What Are the Different Types of Urinary Incontinence?
There are four main types of urinary incontinence in older women:
- Stress incontinence: You leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise.
- Urgency incontinence: You suddenly need to urinate and may not reach the bathroom in time.
- Mixed incontinence: You have both stress and urgency incontinence.
- Functional incontinence: A health or mobility problem makes it hard to reach or use the bathroom in time.
Knowing which type you have helps your urologist recommend the right treatment.
What Are the Treatment Options for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women?
Many women can improve bladder control without surgery. Treatment depends on the type of incontinence and how much it affects your daily life.
Pelvic Floor Exercises and Physical Therapy
Pelvic floor exercises, often called Kegels, can strengthen the muscles that support your bladder. A pelvic floor physical therapist can show you how to do them correctly.
These exercises can help with stress incontinence and may also help control sudden urges to urinate.
Bladder Training and Lifestyle Changes
Bladder training can help if you often feel a sudden need to urinate. It involves using the bathroom on a schedule and slowly increasing the time between trips.
Other changes that may help include:
- Cutting back on caffeine
- Avoiding large amounts of fluid at once
- Treating constipation
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Making the bathroom easier to reach
Medications for Urgency Incontinence
Your doctor may recommend medication to help your bladder relax and hold more urine.
Two common types are beta-3 agonists and antimuscarinic medications. Both can help reduce sudden urges and bladder leakage.
Some bladder medications can cause dry mouth, constipation, or problems with memory and thinking. Others may raise blood pressure.
Your doctor will consider your health and possible side effects before recommending treatment.
Pessaries and Urethral Bulking
Some treatments for stress incontinence help support the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body.
A pessary is a removable device placed inside the vagina to help support the urethra and reduce leaks. It may also help women with pelvic organ prolapse.
Urethral bulking involves injecting a gel-like material into the urethral walls to help prevent leakage. Some women need repeat treatments.
Botox and Nerve Stimulation
If urgency incontinence doesn’t improve with other treatments, Botox injections or nerve stimulation may help.
Botox relaxes the bladder muscle to reduce sudden urges, but it can sometimes make it harder to empty your bladder.
Nerve stimulation uses gentle electrical pulses to help control bladder signals.
Surgery for Stress Incontinence
If other treatments don’t help, surgery may be an option.
One common procedure is a midurethral sling. Your surgeon places a thin strip of material under the urethra to give it more support and help prevent leaks during activities like coughing or exercising.
When Should You See a Urologist?
If bladder leakage is affecting your daily life, it’s a good idea to see a urologist. You don’t have to wait until your symptoms become severe.
Your doctor can review your symptoms, check for possible causes, and recommend treatment based on your needs.
Find Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Elderly Female Patients
Bladder leakage may become more common with age, but treatment can help you feel more comfortable and confident.
At Carolina Urology Partners, we help women in Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC, find treatment for urinary incontinence. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
