What should be done about postpartum urinary incontinence in women?

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Generally, women are prone to urinary incontinence after childbirth. Normally, due to the significant increase in uterine pressure during childbirth, which compresses the bladder, or damage to the anterior vaginal wall, postpartum urinary incontinence can occur. If urinary incontinence is confirmed, it is still necessary to observe temporarily. Postpartum urinary incontinence can generally last three to six months, and the bladder will recover to its pre-pregnancy state. During this period, it is best to wear thicker clothes and trousers, use a pad, and maintain cleanliness of the vulva. If the symptoms of urinary incontinence cannot be alleviated, it is still necessary to perform pelvic floor exercises or undergo symptomatic surgical treatment.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
57sec home-news-image

What should be done about postpartum urinary incontinence in women?

Generally, women are prone to urinary incontinence after childbirth. Normally, due to the significant increase in uterine pressure during childbirth, which compresses the bladder, or damage to the anterior vaginal wall, postpartum urinary incontinence can occur. If urinary incontinence is confirmed, it is still necessary to observe temporarily. Postpartum urinary incontinence can generally last three to six months, and the bladder will recover to its pre-pregnancy state. During this period, it is best to wear thicker clothes and trousers, use a pad, and maintain cleanliness of the vulva. If the symptoms of urinary incontinence cannot be alleviated, it is still necessary to perform pelvic floor exercises or undergo symptomatic surgical treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can fecal incontinence be recovered?

If fecal incontinence occurs, the first step is to identify the main cause of the fecal incontinence. If it is caused by relaxation of the anal sphincter and anal canal, then surgery can be performed to tighten this area, specifically through an anal tightening procedure, which can restore control over fecal incontinence. If the patient has other underlying diseases or is elderly and frail, accompanied by changes in the nervous system, the symptoms of fecal incontinence may be alleviated through medication or physical therapy, but complete recovery is unlikely. This is because the recovery of the nervous system requires the integrated regulation of other bodily organs and functions. If there are multiple underlying diseases or if the patient is elderly and frail, especially in the later stages of coma, recovery is difficult.

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Written by Chen Bao Chun
Urology
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How do I deal with painful urination followed by urinary incontinence?

Painful urination followed by urinary incontinence is considered to be due to a urinary tract infection causing urge incontinence. When this occurs, the patient needs to undergo a routine urine test to confirm that it is caused by a urinary tract infection. Initial treatment can involve oral antibiotics to address the infection. After controlling the urinary tract infection, the incontinence will be alleviated or cured. There are also other causes of painful urination and urge incontinence, such as interstitial cystitis or glandular cystitis, which are special bladder diseases. These conditions require further investigation with urinary system ultrasound or cystoscopy for a definitive diagnosis. Treatment then follows based on the specific cause, and after treating conditions like interstitial cystitis, the incontinence will be relieved or cured.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What medicine to take for fecal incontinence?

There are many causes of fecal incontinence, and it is first necessary to further clarify the cause. Most cases of fecal incontinence are mainly due to excessive relaxation of the local anal sphincter or damage to the patient's nervous system, thus requiring oral medication to treat the nervous system. When there is relaxation of the local anal sphincter, simply taking oral medication does not have significant local therapeutic effects. The most effective method is to directly perform a sphincter tightening surgery. After the local sphincter is tightened surgically, it can control the excretion of feces, thereby further alleviating the situation of fecal incontinence. If the patient also has a neurological disorder, it is necessary to actively treat the underlying disease. (The use of medications should be done under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Postpartum urinary incontinence symptoms

Postpartum urinary incontinence primarily manifests as uncontrollable urination in women. This occurs when there is increased abdominal pressure, such as during coughing or constipation or when jumping rope, causing urine to involuntarily leak. This condition typically develops during pregnancy as the growing uterus compresses the subcutaneous tissue in the pelvic area. Additionally, the biochemical damage to the pelvic tissues during childbirth reduces their elasticity, leading to a loss of control over the abdominal muscles of some pelvic organs. It is recommended to promptly start pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation training in such cases, and generally, symptoms should improve within six months of consistent rehabilitation exercises.