Over 40 and ‘leaking’? Incontinence is more common than hay fever

INCONTINENCE, or ‘leakage’, affects nearly half of all mothers, and in women over the age of 40 is more common than hay fever. And although it’s often linked to advancing years, it happens in younger women too.

There are two types — stress and urge incontinence — though some people suffer both at the same time. Stress incontinence is triggered by coughing, sneezing or exercise, whereas urge incontinence usually happens without an obvious trigger.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Stress incontinence stems from weakness in the pelvic-floor muscles, usually from pregnancy, being overweight or chronic coughing. Laughing, coughing or exercise puts extra strain on these muscles, causing urine to leak.

It’s also more common after the menopause, as the lack of oestrogen in the body further weakens these muscles.

Urge incontinence is related to an overactive bladder — the muscles contract unexpectedly, so you feel a sudden sense of needing to go.

WHAT CAN I DO?

‘Women can buy Tena lady pads in the supermarket, but that’s just surviving with the problem and not dealing with it,’ says gynaecological cancer nurse Tracie Miles, from The Eve Appeal charity, who has suffered with the problem herself. Seeing your GP is the first step. Different kinds of incontinence require different treatments.’ Simple exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor can tackle stress incontinence, such as tensing the muscles several times each day for ten seconds, squeezing as if to stop yourself urinating.

Severe cases may need surgery to correct any prolapse. Urge incontinence responds well to medication but a type of training called a ‘bladder drill’ is also effective, which involves gradually increasing the amount of time between urinating.