Urinary Incontinence Products - Bladder Control Supplies

Urinary incontinence is a common condition in both adults and children. Incontinence (accidental release of urine) affects over 13 million Americans, which is almost 1 in every 12 people. In adults, incontinence is more common in women, while male children are prone to incontinence.

Prostrate is the root cause of incontinence in men. Unfortunately, prostrate, a reproductive organ is located right behind the bladder and when infected, it can cause pressure on the bladder which causes the accidental release of the urine. While pregnancy and childbirth can cause temporary incontinence in women as the uterus lies directly above the bladder, urinary tract infection is a more serious cause. In some cases, hysterectomy can cause the incontinence as the pelvic muscles are weakened and menopause induced stress is also known to be a cause with some women.

Toilet training is an important phase in a baby’s development when their body starts recognizing and sending signals to the brain that the bladder is full. The phase when a child is ready to be trained varies with each individual. Bed wetting or Enuresis is a common problem with all children, especially if the child is a deep sleeper. At their tender age, nightmares can also cause bedwetting. As the child grows, bedwetting stops in most cases. However, if the cases of bedwetting do not decrease and gradually stop, then a pediatrician should be consulted who will be able to assess the health of the child more closely and rule out any medical conditions.

Urinary Incontinence Products

As difficult it may be to accept, urinary incontinence is a fact that some of us have to accept in our daily life and live with it. Some of the incontinence products that can help us along the way are:

• External Catheter: is a thin tube that is used to drain the bladder manually. It connects to an external pouch to hold the urine. These are ideal for men who are recovering from the prostrate surgery.
• Urethral Inserts: are tampon like devices that a woman can place in her urethra to prevent any leakage of urine.
• Absorbent Pads: are ideal for women who suffer from accidental release of urine.
• Adult Diapers: can be used by both men and women and are usually used when you will be spending more than a few hours in a place without a washroom, for example it can be used when you are traveling.
• Pessaries: are available for women only. These are made of latex or silicone and are placed inside the vagina to provide support to the bladder. Please ensure that you do not try to fit it by yourself and it should be placed inside the vagina only by a medical practitioner.
• Self-adhesive foam pads: can be used by women only which is placed against the labia to prevent leakage. When you need to urinate, dispose the pad and place a new pad after you are done.
• Electrical Stimulation Devices: are used to transmit strengthen the pelvic and bladder muscles by passing small electrical signals through them. Ideally, you should get it done at a doctor’s clinic, but if you have a permanent incontinence problem and are aware of the entire procedure, then portable battery operated units are also available which you can use in your house.
• Collagen Implants: are injected into the tissues around the urethra. As it adds bulk around the urethra, the urethra is narrowed down a little. This is usually helpful in the case of stress induced incontinence.
• Bedwetting Alarms: are available for children and can wake up the child if he or she starts wetting.
• Bed Pads: are ideal for children. These are thin and highly absorbent materials that can be placed under the child to deal with bedwetting.

Apart from all the above products, you should also consult a doctor who will suggest pelvic exercises to help strengthen the muscles and give you more bladder control. Also, set up a schedule, that is stop whatever you are doing every 2 – 3 hours to urinate. This will ensure that your bladder is empty and will reduce the possibility of accidental releases. Medication is also an option but I am sure that you would have already consulted a doctor for the same if you suffer from acute incontinence.

I would like to conclude saying that people across the world suffer from urinary bladder incontinence and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is a medical problem that needs to be addressed. Seek help immediately and lead a stress free life.