Urinary Incontinence Treatment and Prevention among Women

Urinary incontinence (UI) defined as involuntary loss of urine affects the quality of life among women. The types of UI found among women are stress urinary incontinence, mixed urinary incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence. The main risk factors of UI are pregnancy, child delivery, overweight, ageing. Maintaining adequate weight and engaging in physical activity with balanced diet is used as preventive measure for UI. The pelvic floor muscle training is used among pregnant women from first trimester to prevent UI. The risk group must be educated about UI, preventing and treating UI requires self-care, self-monitoring, support and goal setting. The conservative treatment for UI is behavioral therapy which includes bladder training, pelvic floor muscle training, weight loss, using mechanical devices. Anticholinergic drugs in combination with behavioral therapy may bring positive result. The second line treatment includes colposuspension (retropubic and laparoscopic), mid-urethral slings (Tension free vaginal tape and Transobturator tape), single slings. Retropubic colposuspension is more expensive than TOT, beneficial in long run. Studies states that TOT and TOT has same efficacy. Single sling procedure is minimally invasive but requires further studies