Urinary Incontinence

Rebecca Rogers, MD

Can urinary incontinence be prevented? Or is it just a natural part of life after having a baby? Or a normal part of aging?

Incontinence is never normal. Yet many women accept it as a normal part of aging. Half of those who consider their incontinence a problem do not seek help from their medical provider. Barriers to seeking help include the embarrassment that many women feel in bringing up the subject of incontinence. Primary care providers may also feel uncomfortable initiating therapies, and they have limited time in which to address incontinence, especially if there are other pressing, life-threatening problems.

Risk factors for urinary incontinence include obesity, aging, Caucasian race, pregnancy and childbirth, particularly vaginal versus cesarean delivery. Although it is true that urinary incontinence is associated with vaginal childbirth, there is limited evidence that avoiding pregnancy or vaginal birth (by requesting a C-section) decreases your risk of developing the condition. More research is needed to better identify women at high risk of developing urinary incontinence after childbirth so that effective preventive strategies can be developed.

Other prevention measures, such as performing Kegel exercises and weight loss, have proved to be effective treatments for incontinence. There is limited evidence, however, that they can prevent the development of incontinence in women who are continent.

Rebecca Rogers, M.D.
Director, Division of Urogynecology
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
American Urogynecological Society
National Association for Continence