Every Woman reproductive health questions: Bladder

Question: I recently had a problem where I couldn’t hold my urine. I went to the hospital and they told me a lot of stories that don’t make sense to me now. I was not feeling pain; the urine was just doing express coach service from the kidney all the way out!  It was very embarrassing as some times it would happen where there are people. I got to an extent of wearing diapers! Some doctor on-line told me it was caused by stress but what really causes it and how can it be cured? If it is of any help let me point out that I have never given birth.

Answer: According to gynaecologist Joyce Munthali, there are several causes to this problem in a woman that has never given birth. She, however, points out that the problem will get worse if you are expecting, because during pregnancy your uterus presses onto your bladder.

“The first cause of this could be swellings such a fibroids in the uterus, which might be pressing down on the bladder and causing urine to be released. Alternatively, your problem might be caused by stress, or it might be a case of congenital laxity of the bladder, where the bladder is loose and can’t hold urine as it should. However, this usually happens to women who have had multiple pregnancies. If you are childless, then the best thing to do would be to examine you to determine what the problem really is.”

Www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov outlines the following causes of bladder control problems in women of all ages:

Weak muscles. Most bladder control problems are caused by weak pelvic muscles. These muscles may become stretched and weak during pregnancy and childbirth. Weak muscles let the bladder sag out of position, which may stretch the opening to the urethra.

Nerve damage. Damaged nerves may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time. As a result, a bladder spasm may push out urine without warning. Sometimes damaged nerves send no signals at all, and the brain can’t tell when the bladder is full. Nerves can be damaged by diseases or trauma. Diseases and conditions that can damage the nerves include; diabetes, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and stroke.

Trauma that can damage the nerves includes; pelvic or back surgery herniated disc radiation

Medicines, alcohol, and caffeine. Leaking can happen when medicines affect any of the muscles or nerves. You may take medicine to calm your nerves so that you can sleep or relax. This medicine may dull the nerves in the bladder and keep them from signalling the brain when the bladder is full. Without the message and urge, the bladder overflows. Drinking alcohol can also cause these nerves to fail. Water pills—diuretics—take fluid from swollen areas of your body and send it to the bladder. This rapid filling may cause the bladder to leak. Caffeine drinks such as coffee and cola also cause the bladder to fill quickly. Make sure your drinks are decaffeinated.

Infection. A urinary tract infection can irritate bladder nerves and cause the bladder to squeeze without warning. This type of incontinence goes away once the infection has been cured.

Excess weight. Being overweight can put pressure on the bladder and contribute to stress incontinence.