Understanding Incontinence

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💧 Understanding Incontinence

📊 What You Should Know

Urinary incontinence — the unintentional loss of urine — affects nearly 25 million adults in the United States.

• About 1      in 3 women experience incontinence at some point in their lives.
• Among      men over 60, about 1 in 5 report leakage or loss of bladder      control.
• The Centers      for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 50% of      nursing home residents and 15% of community-dwelling adults over 65     live with some degree of incontinence.

While it is common, it is not a normal part of aging, and it is highly treatable. With understanding, care, and the right strategies, you can regain control and live comfortably.

🌿 Finding Control Through Everyday Changes

Sometimes the simplest changes make the biggest difference. Adjusting your fluid intake and avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can reduce urgency and frequency. Training your bladder to wait a little longer between bathroom visits helps your body regain natural control. Even modest weight loss can reduce pressure on the bladder.
These are small steps — but they can lead to big improvements in confidence and independence.

💪 Strengthening the Pelvic Floor

Your pelvic muscles help support your bladder and control urination. Strengthening these muscles through pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) or pelvic floor therapy can dramatically reduce leakage.
For some, biofeedback is added — a simple, private tool that shows you when you’re using the right muscles. With regular practice, these exercises can restore confidence and even improve sexual wellness.

⚡ Helping Nerves and Muscles Work Together

If your bladder leaks because of nerve signals or overactivity, gentle electrical stimulation can help restore balance.
Procedures such as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), and the eCoin® implant use mild electrical impulses to retrain bladder control pathways. These treatments are safe, effective, and minimally invasive.

🩺 For Men: Modern Options for an Enlarged Prostate

Many men who experience leakage, dribbling, or weak urine flow have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Today, men have more treatment options than ever before.

Minimally invasive procedures such as Rezūm® water vapor therapy, microwave therapy (TUMT), and UroLift® use steam, heat, or small implants to open the urinary passage.

A newer, non-surgical option, Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE), uses microscopic beads to block part of the blood flow to the prostate, causing it to gradually shrink. The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist, usually takes a few hours, and recovery is fast. Studies over the past 15 years show that most men experience meaningful relief within months, with fewer sexual side effects compared to surgery.

For some, traditional surgeries such as TURP or laser procedures remain highly effective long-term options.

🧘‍♀️ Restoring Confidence and Intimacy

Intimacy is a part of wellness — and incontinence can affect how comfortable we feel with our partners. Research shows that one in three women with stress incontinence avoids sex because of fear of leakage. Many men experience similar anxieties, especially after prostate surgery.

These feelings are common, but they don’t have to control your life. Communication is key — talking openly with your partner about your concerns builds trust and reduces tension.

You can also take practical steps: avoid bladder irritants before intimacy, limit fluids, and empty your bladder twice before sexual activity. Using protective bedding or changing positions may also reduce stress.

Remember: intimacy is about connection, not perfection. With treatment, confidence and closeness can be restored.

🩹 Everyday Management and Support

Daily management tools can help you live comfortably while treatment takes effect.
Products such as absorbent pads, adult briefs, and underpads provide protection and peace of mind. These supplies are considered qualified medical expenses under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) — meaning you can buy them tax-free.

Currently, Medicare does not cover most disposable incontinence products, but there are reliable and affordable options available:

• CVS      Pharmacy – Incontinence Supplies
• Carewell – Attends and Other Brands
• Attends Official Site
• PureWick™ Female System — a      non-invasive, external urinary collection system for women.

These products help many people live more freely and comfortably — allowing them to focus on life, not leakage.

💬 You Are Not Alone

Living with incontinence can test your patience and confidence, but it does not define you. There are effective treatments, supportive products, and compassionate professionals ready to help.

If you take the first step — talking with your doctor or trying one new strategy — you are already on the path toward better control and peace of mind.

🌟 If you change nothing, nothing will change.
Take one small step today.

© 2025 masssenior.org – All Rights Reserved.

📚 References (APA 7th Edition)

American Urological Association. (2023). Guideline: Diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence in adults. Retrieved from https://www.auanet.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Prevalence of incontinence among adults aged 65 and older, United States, 2023.National Center for Health Statistics.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2024). Urinary incontinence in adults. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Wright, E. J. (2024). Managing incontinence and sexual health in older adults. Johns Hopkins Department of Urology, Baltimore, MD.

Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Living with urinary incontinence: Causes, treatments, and self-care. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org

American Foundation for Urologic Disease. (2023). Incontinence and intimacy: Understanding the emotional impact. Retrieved from https://www.afud.org