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Q & A: Sensitive Bladder

By Jose Aun | bio | contact

Q: I’m in my early 40’s and I have a very sensitive bladder. Often times when I laugh or stress my abdomen, I tend to urinate a bit. How normal is this and what can I do to stop this problem from happening?

A: Urinary incontinence is defined as the loss of bladder control. It is an extremely common problem that affects approximately fourteen million women in the United States. This can happen to anyone, but becomes more common with age. The two most common causes of bladder control problems are when the muscles surrounding the bladder are too weak or too active. When the muscles that support your bladder are too weak, you may have accidents when you sneeze, laugh, or lift a heavy object. This is known as stress incontinence. If the muscles are too active, you may have a strong urge to go the bathroom when you have little urine in your bladder. This is urge incontinence or overactive bladder. It is important to make the correct diagnosis by undergoing testing to determine the best course of treatment. Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment may include simple exercises, medicines, or surgical treatment. Women should not be afraid or embarrassed to discuss this problem with their healthcare provider. Your quality of life can be greatly improved.