There is a particularly unpleasant problem for women, from which they feel great discomfort and inconvenience, and in fact there is a solution. Yes, I am referring to urinary incontinence or the uncontrollable passing of urine. I’ve had patients come to me who are constantly wearing sanitary napkins because of this problem, or even adult diapers. Dear ladies, you should not be ashamed of peeing, but treat it. If you have to remember only one thing from this article, let it be this: Urinary incontinence is a treatable condition! If you have experienced uncontrollable leakage of urine when sneezing, laughing, playing sports, lifting heavy objects or coughing, you should consult a specialist – a gynecologist. A patient once came to me saying, “I have to wear a bandage every day now. I feel super dumb, like I’m some kind of old lady.’ And that’s the big problem, because people think urinary incontinence is related to old age and it’s a lifelong condition. I pay special attention – it is not so! The condition occurs at different ages – on average, one in four women and one in two men have had uncontrollable leakage of urine at least once in their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization, more than 100 million people suffer from urinary incontinence. As you can see, the problem is just as common as nail fungus for example, but people are reluctant to share and try their best to hide it. What are the causes of urinary incontinence? Contraction of the bladder and uterus in women, especially after childbirth; Inflammation of the bladder or the lining of the urethra; Formations on the mucous membrane; Nervous diseases to prostate enlargement in men. In women, the bladder and urinary tract are in contact with a layer of muscle known as the pelvic floor muscles. They help the urinary tract to open. When these muscles weaken or their elasticity deteriorates, uncontrolled leakage of urine may occur. NEWS_MORE_BOX When can pelvic floor muscles become stretched or weak? Most likely during pregnancy and childbirth, excess weight puts extra strain on these muscles. Menopause is another reason for leakage of urine in women. As the body’s muscles age and the amount of estrogen decreases after menopause, the lining of the bladder and the walls of the urinary tract thin. It also weakens the blood supply to the muscles of the lower part of the pelvis, and this also affects their functioning. Urinary incontinence is often the result. When urinary incontinence is the result of an organic problem, it can be removed by surgical intervention. How is this achieved? By pelvic floor reconstruction in women, by mesh implants, etc. sling operations. These are minimally invasive operations, in which a sling is implanted,through which the bladder and urethra are maintained in the correct position and serves to close the urethral sphincter, through a minimal abdominal incision. The sling itself is made of modern polymer materials of high quality, strength and biocompatibility. The postoperative observation period is usually only 2-3 days. What are the advantages of sling surgery Minimally invasive procedure; Short period of hospitalization, usually 2-3 days. Non-surgical treatment is also possible. This type of treatment works to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. It is also important that the patient learns to use these muscles to prevent uncontrolled leakage of urine. The methods are as follows: In milder forms of incontinence, Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor are particularly important; As a supplement to the exercises, electrical stimulation is also applied by means of a special electrode; Teaching the patient to control his own psychophysiological functions; Treatment with estrogens, which cause thickening of the urethral mucosa and enhance the response of the urethral smooth muscles; Bladder relaxants. As you can see, the causes of urinary incontinence can be very different. Therefore, it is important to choose the treatment methods adequately. The results are more than encouraging and with appropriate treatment control of the disease and complete resolution of the problem is achieved.