Still young, but experiencing slight urine leakage when sneezing, is this a warning sign?

 

Can't avoid it when aging or giving birth?

As people age, the functions of the bladder, urethra, and kidneys, as well as pelvic muscles, tend to change into a state more prone to urinary incontinence. However, some individuals maintain normal function even with age, and urinary incontinence can be cured with treatment. Childbirth can damage or weaken pelvic muscles, but with efforts such as pelvic muscle exercises after childbirth, it is possible to overcome urinary incontinence.

Even at a young age, occasional urinary leakage during sneezing or loud laughter in daily life can be considered temporary urinary incontinence. If left untreated, the likelihood of developing chronic urinary incontinence increases. The causes of temporary urinary incontinence are diverse. Urinary tract infections, medication use, heart failure, diabetes, and severe constipation can all cause temporary urinary leakage.

If a woman has many children, repeated damage to the nerves of the pelvic muscles can occur, increasing the likelihood of urinary incontinence. In particular, stress urinary incontinence is caused by weakened pelvic muscles and is closely related to pregnancy and childbirth. During delivery, the fetal head passing through the birth canal can cause tears in the pelvic muscles, fascia, or ligament layers. If the torn tissues do not regenerate sufficiently, the pelvic muscles weaken, causing the bladder and urethra to sag downward. As a result, when intra-abdominal pressure increases during coughing or laughing, symptoms of urinary leakage or stress urinary incontinence appear.

It is already established that childbirth and aging increase the risk of urinary incontinence. There is no definitive medical evidence that urinary incontinence is hereditary. However, frequent consumption of foods that irritate the bladder can worsen urinary incontinence, and since families often share similar lifestyles, including dietary habits, it is considered to have a broad sense of family history.

Smoking causes coughing which increases intra-abdominal pressure, and nicotine or alcohol can irritate the bladder, potentially causing or worsening urinary incontinence.

Obesity is the cause of 80-90% of stress urinary incontinence in women. Therefore, to prevent and treat urinary incontinence, it is important to maintain a proper weight through healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Regular exercise helps maintain the tension of pelvic muscles, preventing incontinence, and improves bowel movements. When bowel movements become more active, constipation is alleviated, which is one of the factors that can worsen urinary incontinence.

That's not true. Even if a cesarean section is performed during childbirth, pelvic muscles are already somewhat damaged during pregnancy, which can lead to stress urinary incontinence. The later in life a woman becomes pregnant, the greater this risk becomes.

There are non-surgical and surgical treatments for urinary incontinence. Non-surgical treatments include biofeedback therapy, electrical stimulation therapy, and medication therapy (such as anticholinergic drugs). In some cases, surgery may be necessary. It is not advisable to always recommend surgery or to insist solely on non-surgical methods.