About one in three women face urinary incontinence. Most often incontinence or leakage of urine begins during pregnancy [1].
There are two kinds of incontinence: stress and urge. Sometimes women face both.
Stress incontinence is leaking during exercise or while coughing, sneezing or laughing.
Urge incontinence is a sudden and strong urge to urinate, leaving a woman with little time to make it to the toilet.
Stress incontinence is more common, and studies show that it is more likely to occur after vaginal delivery than after cesarean delivery. But urge incontinence does not depend on the method of delivery [2].
How long will it take to recover?
Everyone experiences it differently. Within three months of giving birth, approximately half of all women's functions are restored [3]. A year after giving birth, stress incontinence persists in 20% of women, and urge in about 8% [2].
Will pelvic floor muscle training help to cope with incontinence?
On average, if a woman has done Kegel exercises before and during pregnancy, she has a better chance of avoiding postpartum incontinence entirely.
If she began training the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and continued after childbirth, she will have a better chance of overcoming the problem within the first six months [2].
How to deal with incontinence?
Don’t be embarrassed or hide the fact that you are facing this medical issue. Incontinence is not indecent, and it is not your fault. Discuss with your doctor the factors that may be influencing the situation. There are physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor exercises [4].
Refusing certain products (for example, coffee) may be effective in treating urge incontinence. Do not be afraid to consult with a gynecologist and/or urologist about the use of pessaries (support rings) or surgical treatment options [5].
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