Conditions
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is passing urine when you do not mean to because of partial or total loss of control of the bladder. It is estimated that 3-6 million people in the UK have some degree of incontinence, which becomes more common with age, but does not only affect older people. It’s twice as common in women as men and is more common in women after giving birth. Incontinence means that either the muscles, or the nerve supply, are not working properly to control your bladder. The two main types of urinary incontinence are: stress incontinence (a small amount of urine leaks out during physical activity), and urge incontinence (the bladder empties completely). However, there are a number of treatments available. Pelvic floor exercises (or Kegel exercises) can be performed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, or patients can be referred for electric stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles to increase their strength. There are also a variety of surgical procedures available.
If you’re suffering from continence problems then you can watch a special webchat with Mr Andrew Clarke on Thursday 10th December at 2pm (GMT). Go to www.webchats.tv to submit your questions ahead of the live chat.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Im 42 year old woman and I havent had children. Ive been using Aquaflex pelvic exercisers for a while now because I found that I leaked urine if I sneezed heavily, jumped or lifted heavy things, and some other similar situations. Ive had weight problems and I was almost 18 stone once but Im now about 12 stone, so weight could have been the problem. My last 2 sexual partners have said that my vagina feels very tight during sex, but I seem to urinate during sex now which I never used to do, so Im very confused. Surely if I was tight then it cant be pelvic muscles. Maybe its something else? Any suggestions?
My wife is 58 and SUFFERS from terrible problems with incontinence. Every time she goes to the doctor she gets told it is an infection, gets steroids(just finished 5th lot in a very short time) When she is passing urine she can go to the toilet and dribble the tiniest amount, or she can just stand from a sitting position and she will flood, and there is nothing she can do about it. She gets the most vicious like electric shock throughout her entire body, and can keep her awake, and crying with pain, through the night. To a concerned husband I am very worried as this cannot be normal. She is worried that if she goes back to doctors she will be given more tablets or get told there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
My aunty suffers with daytime incontinence when ever she is going out or work if she drink a tea before she gone out will need 3 times to go toilet she is realy determind to get help? thankz
I'm a 21 year old woman and I need to wee all the time. I have to go to the toilet about once every half hour when I'm awake. If I go to the toilet just before I leave a building, I will need it again just after walking down the road. I have to stop to wee around four times during sex. I avoid drinking anything when there isn't a loo around, but that doesn't seem to help much. It never used to be like this, but over the past three years it has got worse. I told my GP about it, but she said that I will just have to live with it. I am fed up of being in constant discomfort and always being worried about where the next loo will be.
My 14year old daughter went to see her doctor to day with similar problems to you. After the doctor sent away a urine sample to check for infection, it came back normal! My daughter now has been refered to the hospital to see what is going on. Its early days so we don't have any results back. The doctor did say that at such a young age this should not be happening to her! I think you should go back to your doctor and get a hospital referal or even more answers and help. Tell the doctor how it makes you feel and how its ruining you life! Your intitalled to any help you can get!
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
my sister is 42 an wets herself, more than 8 times a day, she was refured to pysio, an when that didnt work she was told by her gp, it was her age, she is always doing pelvic floor exercise,an has had 3 children, she said her partner has mentioned that he can smell her, is there any other medical solution that you can help her with
I am 14,I have ibs but this tends to happen when I laugh, are there any exercise or ways to control your bladder?
Im a 15 year old female and have incontinence. i have talked to my doctor and got a urine sample taken which came back normal but i have heard nothing since then. i don't know what to do. It controls my life, i can't jump anout without going to the toilet every 5 minutes and trampolines are out of the question! Help!
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
i am 17 and have had what i think is stress incontinence for a few years. it is highly embarrasing and i dont feel like i can have fun with my friends anymore. what can i do
i had my appendix taken out by keyloge and i went in retention . then i had a catherzation becase my bladder stoped working in may . i had ceptema ,coilie, acute Pyelonephritis of kidneys all at once and i have had acute Pyelonephritis 8 times and i had high temputer . now i have no feeling in my spine,bladder,bowel,legs,feet . if your bladder is ok there should taken cather out and did u have test done for bladder and wat did test say . mine said that my bladder is none estet that means doesnt work at all frm kelly
Im 47, have had stress incontinence (sneezing, coughing etc)for approx 6 months, not had an explanation for a cause but my own online research points to a few possibles, childbirth, 2 episiotomies, pre-menopausal, rectal surgery. Was referred around December time. Saw consultant and a physio, offered pelvic floor exercises which havent really helped, physio said on examination I had strong muscles anyway,seeing follow-up physio very soon so hope for something to be done. Also have bad bowel problems resulting in having to wear the biggest and longest panty liners you can buy at all times or its a disaster! Consultant did mention possible surgery, does this help if anyone has had it, and does it cause any complications?
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