Urinary Incontinence

Cheryle Gartley

If I "leak" only mildly or just once in awhile, is it really a medical problem? Or just something that I should adjust to?

Incontinence is a medical problem. One of the most important and pressing reasons for early diagnosis is that incontinence is always a symptom of something else happening in the body. For most people it’s not an indication of a serious underlying medical condition. It can be precipitated by the natural changes in the body due to aging, such as loss of muscle tone and strength in women, or, in men, enlargement of the prostate gland. It may be caused by a urinary tract infection, in which case antibiotics can cure it. But it can also be a warning sign of a serious medical problem such as multiple sclerosis, a tumor or urethral blockage. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your doctor, so that he or she can determine the reason for your "leakage." In any case, you’ll learn what type of incontinence you have, which can help you in the future when you are wondering if a new treatment or device will help you.

Having listened to thousands of individuals’ incontinence challenges, I recognize that there are many obstacles to following this advice. Not only are most people uncomfortable talking about the subject, but they’re also fearful that divulging their leakage to their doctor could lead to surgery. While it is imperative that you find the cause of your incontinence, once you know it, and the possibility of a serious medical condition has been ruled out, the choice of what to do is up to you. It’s your body, your choice.

When considering what is right for you, though, consider your quality of life. While reactions to incontinence vary, most people share the fear of having one’s bladder misbehave in public. This fear may lead to withdrawing from life, hiding in your home to be close to a toilet. Sometimes individuals don’t realize how much their lives have changed, because the effect of incontinence can be insidious. Yet these very same individuals talk about what they used to do -- hiking, fishing, going to the opera, taking long road trips -- all places they no longer venture. Only you can answer if this all sounds too familiar, and therefore what decision is right for you when coping with a misbehaving bladder.

Cheryle Gartley
Founder and President, the Simon Foundation for Continence
www.simonfoundation.org