Understanding available treatments

Treatments available

• Pelvic Floor Exercises
• Bladder Training Program
• Biofeedback
• Medication
• Surgery

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Your doctor might recommend that you practice these simple toning exercises to strengthen the muscles that help control urine flow. These exercises are particularly useful to tone the muscles of the pelvic floor during pregnancy and after childbirth. In some instances, these exercises have also proved effective in reducing bladder weakness in men. Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

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Bladder Training Program

This involves restoring a normal pattern of going to the toilet by slowly increasing the amount of time between trips to the bathroom and making sure you empty your bladder properly when you go. There are a number of tricks to doing this and these are best learned under the supervision of your physiotherapist or nurse continence advisor. If your doctor suggests bladder training, a bladder diary as well as a schedule of activities that normally make up your day, will be important in developing a successful program for you.

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Biofeedback

In addition to pelvic muscle exercises, your doctor or nurse may recommend biofeedback to help you identify and control the muscles located around the bladder opening. In a clinic or similar setting, small sensors are temporarily placed in contact with your body. As you practice contracting muscles around the bladder opening, the sensors give you a signal, usually an audible tone or movement on a visual display or graph, indicating when you have correctly contracted the right muscles. In this manner, biofeedback can help maximise the benefits gained from practicing pelvic muscle exercises.

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Medication

In some cases, your health professional may prescribe medication either alone, or in combination with behavioural treatment to help restore continence. Be aware that some medications may actually contribute to bladder weakness. For this reason, be sure your doctor knows about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you're taking. All medications should be taken under the care of a doctor.

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Surgery

Usually the last treatment option, surgery is sometimes recommended for certain types of incontinence after more conventional treatments are found to be unsatisfactory.

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