Drink Fewer Fluids And Limit Intake Of Caffeine
Guidelines recommend that a person consume eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day. This, however, does not take into consideration the individuals age, body weight, activity or the outside temperature. A good way to assess if one is drinking the right amount of fluids is to monitor ones urine. If the urine appears very pale or colorless, one may be drinking too much water. If the urine is dark and has a strong smell, one is likely not drinking enough water. Also, caffeine found in coffee, tea, some sodas, and even over-the-counter medications, can act as a diuretic and worsen the issue.
Table : Impotence And Incontinence
The reported statistics on the likelihood of developing impotence or incontinence after prostate cancer treatment vary widely, as shown by the ranges below.
Procedure Percentage of men who may develop impotence Percentage of men who may develop incontinence Radical prostatectomy 30%50% 2%
How did the operation go? And when did it become apparent that you might take longer to recover than you had been led to believe?
The operation went fine. I went back to work very quickly, and in most respects I felt fine. I was incontinent immediately after surgery, but I was led to believe that the problem would straighten itself out within a few weeks or months. But it didnt.
Did you share your concerns about incontinence with your surgeon?
I did, during follow-up visits after the surgery. I probably visited him three to four times during the first six months after surgery. He told me the problem would get better, and for the first month or two, I believed that. But as time went on, nothing was getting any better.
And he didnt seem to care. In a typical visit, I waited a half hour or an hour to see him for literally five minutes, and then he moved on to the next person. So I finally gave up on him.
What sort of problems were you experiencing?
Cu Urogynecologist Shares Findings With Stylecaster From Her Latest Study Of The Benefits Of Vibrator Use
Dr. Marsha K. Guess spoke with StyleCaster about the recent study she led that showed a specific vibrator has a host of benefits for those who suffer from some sexual arousal or sensation problems, and can possibly heal underlying nerve damage.
The proposed mechanism is that sexual function is improved as a result of increased stimulation to the nerves and possibly improved blood flow to the area with assisted stimulation.â
If youre struggling with a pelvic floor disorder, we want to help. Contact us today to learn about our services and treatment options.
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Welcome to the Newsroom
Thank you for your interest in University of Colorado Urogynecology. The newsroom is a comprehensive online resource for the media. Here youll find the latest news coverage on University of Colorado Urogynecology, as well as fact sheets, patient stories and recent press releases. The University of Colorado Urogynecology team is an expert source on the latest female pelvic health and pelvic floor disorders research and information. Feel free to contact us for interviews or further assistance. Photos are available.
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Incontinence Helped With Whole Body Vibration
Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine control called urinary incontinence . In the general population aged 15 to 64 years old, 1030% of women versus 1.55% of men are affected. At least 50% of nursing home residents are affected. Of that number, 70% are women. Women experience urinary incontinence twice as often as men. Pregnancy and childbirth, decreased estrogen levels during and following menopause, increased pressure on the muscles such as occurs during running or even coughing and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. But both women and men can also become incontinent from neurologic injury, birth defects, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and physical problems associated with aging.
When you work out with weights, youre working out mostly your voluntary skeletal muscles. There are actually many more muscles in your body that are called smooth muscles and involuntary muscles. All these little muscles that are involuntary, the brain stem controls. Thats why urinary incontinence is helped with Whole Body Vibration, because almost every muscle in your body, both voluntary and involuntary, is getting stimulated naturally in response to the Whole Body Vibration.
The pelvic floor musculature contains muscles which contract both voluntarily and involuntarily. When these perineal muscles are weakened, you may notice any of the following problems:
an uncomfortable feeling of pressure or heaviness
And exclusively in women:
Presentation Explores Health Benefits Of Using Vibrators To Address Range Of Pelvic Health Conditions
Cedars-Sinai physician-scientist Alexandra Dubinskaya, MD, presented a study reviewing the data on the use of vibrators to address a range of female pelvic health conditions today during the 117th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association in New Orleans.
Prescribing vibrators for women who have pelvic health concernsfor example, using the devices to improve pelvic floor muscle function and sexual function, and to facilitate treatment of vulvodyniamight be a therapy whose time has come.
The AUA has recognized female genitourinary and sexual health as cornerstones of its annual meeting and identified Cedars-Sinais presentation on the pelvic health benefits of vibrators as one of the leading research studies in the field.
Only recently has the stigma of using vibrators for sexual pleasure started to fade, said Dubinskaya, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery specialist and lead author of the abstract presented at AUA. However, vibrator use remains taboodespite providing a variety of potential health benefits.
Researchers performed a systematic review of studies on the effect of vibrator use on sexual function, pelvic floor function, and vulvar pain.
Among the identified studies, vibrator usage was analyzed as a potential way to enhance a womans sexual experience and sexual health, improve pelvic floor muscle function, help combat incontinence, and facilitate treatment of vulvodyniaa chronic condition causing vulvar pain.
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Do Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
Strong pelvic floor muscles hold in urine better than weak muscles. You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles by doing Kegel exercises. These exercises involve tightening and relaxing the muscles that control urine flow. Researchers found that women who received pelvic floor muscle training had fewer leaks per day than women who didnt receive training.6 You should not do pelvic floor exercises while youre urinating.
Men can also benefit from pelvic floor muscle exercises. Strengthening these muscles may help a man leak urine less often, especially dribbling after urination.
A health care professional, such as a physical therapist trained in pelvic floor therapy, can help you get the most out of your Kegel exercises by helping you improve your core muscle strength. Your core includes your torso muscles, especially the lower back, pelvic floor muscles, and abdomen. These muscles keep your pelvis lined up with your spine, which helps with good posture and balance. Your physical therapist can show you how to do some exercises during daily activities, such as riding in a car or sitting at a desk.
You dont need special equipment for Kegel exercises. However, if you are unsure whether you are doing the exercises correctly, you can learn how to perform Kegel exercises properly by using biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or both. Biofeedback uses special sensors to measure muscle contractions that control urination.
Electronic Devices For Urinary Incontinence
Electronic devices are used to re-educate and strengthen weak urinary muscles. Find out how effective the treatment is.
Electronic devices are used to re-educate and strengthen weak urinary muscles. They produce an electrically stimulated contraction in your pelvic floor and external urethral sphincter.
There are different names for the treatment:
- NMES neuromuscular electrical stimulation
- TNS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- IT interferential therapy
- TS trophic/eutrophic stimulation.
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Ten Simple Things That Can Help Your Incontinence Usually A Good Starting Point
1. Weight loss is one of the most basic things you can try if you are overweight, especially for stress incontinence. Excess belly fat can put pressure on your urinary bladder and make the leakage worse. Weight loss from diet and exercise can help with other medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes. See Fast Weight Loss Exercises 5 Easy Ways To Lose Fat Quickly!
2. Avoid lifting heavy objects, which can put pressure on your bladder and worsen stress incontinence. Lifting heavy weights routinely over the years can also loosen structures in the pelvis that help support the bladder and keep it in place.
3. Watch your fluid intake, especially close to bedtime. Urine accumulates in your bladder as you sleep, which may wake you several times throughout the night, especially if you have urge or overflow incontinence. This is especially common in men with an enlarged prostate . Diabetes that is not well controlled can cause you to drink and urinate more.
4. Avoid drinks and foods that can irritate your bladder like alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, acidic foods, and spicy foods like chili peppers.
5. Constipation can worsen urinary incontinence by stimulating bladder nerves that increase urinary frequency as the stool passes into the rectum. Eating regularly and Increasing the fiber in your diet may help. You may need to take a stool softener regularly in more severe cases of constipation.
Tests For Incontinence That May Be Performed:
Post-Void Residual Volume Test
This test measures the amount of urine that remains in the bladder after urinating. It is measured by inserting a thin, flexible narrow tube into the bladder or by using an ultrasound machine.
Stress Test
This measures any loss of urine when the patient is asked to cough a few times with a full bladder.
Dye Test
This test involves wearing a pad after a non-toxic dye has been inserted into the bladder. If the pad gets stained with the dye, it indicates a loss of urine.
Urodynamic Test
This is a costly test typically done only if surgery is being considered, or if previous treatment has been unsuccessful. It is an advanced way to check the function and efficiency of the bladder and urethra. Typically, the patient is instructed to arrive for testing with a full bladder. While she urinates into a container, the volume of urine and the rate at which the bladder empties is measured. A thin, flexible narrow tube is then inserted into the bladder through the urethra, and the volume of any urine remaining in the bladder is measured. A slight burning sensation may occur when the catheter is inserted. The bladder may be filled with water through the catheter until the patient has the first urge to urinate. The amount of water in the bladder is measured at this point. Then, more water may be added while the patient resists urinating until involuntary urination occurs.
Cystoscopy
Read Also: Why Am I Having Urinary Incontinence
Mayo Clinic Q And A: Treatments For Vaginal Atrophy Can Prevent Complications
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have been in menopause for about a year and have not had many problems other than what my doctor diagnosed as vaginal atrophy. Do over-the-counter products usually help relieve the symptoms, or will I need hormone therapy?
ANSWER: What you are experiencing is common. By some estimates, loss of lubrication and elasticity in the vaginal area affects at least half of women in midlife and beyond. Systemic hormone therapy taken as an oral pill or a skin patch isnt the only treatment for menopausal vaginal atrophy. Other treatments are specific for vaginal atrophy. In fact, if you experience only vaginal symptoms related to menopause, without hot flashes and night sweats, these other therapies are probably better choices.
Vaginal atrophy is caused by a decrease in estrogen production. As you approach menopause, your bodys production of estrogen the main female hormone ebbs and flows and eventually decreases permanently. Less estrogen can make your vaginal tissues thinner, drier, less elastic and more fragile. Estrogen reduction and vaginal atrophy may also occur as the result of certain medical treatments, such as the removal of both ovaries, pelvic radiation, chemotherapy or hormonal treatment for breast cancer.
For some women, vaginal atrophy due to menopause may begin during the years leading up to menopause. For others, it may not become a problem until several years into menopause. Some women are never bothered by it.
Help You Sleep Soundly
While your favorite vibrator isn’t something you’d want to cuddle up with at night, an orgasm before bed can do wonders for those who want to know how to sleep better, according to a study by Central Queensland University .
They found that over half of participants reported improved sleep quality post-masturbation with a vibrator, with 47% reporting that they fell asleep quicker after masturbating.
“Having an orgasm can lead to sounder, better-quality sleep, thanks to the fact that when you climax you produce the sleep-inducing hormone, prolactin,” says Annabelle Knight. “So theoretically, you should enjoy better and more restful sleep after an orgasm. And, with a good night’s sleep under your belt, you’ll be better equipped to face the day.”
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Follow Directions To Manage Safety Concerns
Like any item worn in the vagina, bladder supports come with a small but important risk of toxic shock syndrome .
They can typically be worn safely for up to eight hours within a 24-hour period.
As with any other tampon or device youd insert into the vagina, youd want to make sure that its removed as directed, says Dr. Vasavada.
Be Sure Your Data Is Secure
Wireless transmission of your data, like to a phone, is not always secure and the unauthorized use of data transmitted wirelessly to devices even dildos are not uncommon! When selecting a device to tone your pelvic floor, be sure your private information is always private. Make sure that your personal data must be private and only you can share it when you want to.
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The Perfect Accessory For Aging Women
Women going through perimenopause and menopause may experience a drop in estrogen levels, which can result in less circulation in genital tissues. Less estrogen makes womens genital tissues more fragile and they may require additional lubrication and additional stimulation to experience a climax. A vibrator is an excellent source of stimulation.
Polyps Or Bladder Stones
Abnormal growths like polyps and bladder stones can cause urinary incontinence. Other symptoms might include blood in the urine or abnormally dark urine, pelvic pain, penile or scrotal pain in males, getting up at night to urinate, and urination that stops and starts while voiding. These symptoms might indicate urge incontinence, but less commonly, they might signal the presence of bladder cancer. Any time there is blood in the urine, one must contact a health care provider immediately.
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Medicine For Stress Incontinence
If stress incontinence does not significantly improve with lifestyle changes or exercises, surgery will usually be recommended as the next step.
However, if you’re unsuitable for surgery or want to avoid an operation, you may benefit from an antidepressant medicine called duloxetine. This can help increase the muscle tone of the urethra, to help keep it closed.
You’ll need to take duloxetine tablets twice a day and will be assessed after 2 to 4 weeks to see if the medicine is beneficial or causing any side effects.
Possible side effects of duloxetine can include:
- nausea
- constipation
Do not suddenly stop taking duloxetine, as this can also cause unpleasant side effects. A GP will reduce your dose gradually.
Duloxetine is not suitable for everyone, however, so a GP will discuss any other medical conditions you have to determine if you can take it.
The 6 Best Vibrators For Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Vibrators for pelvic floor physical therapy are a helpful aid to improve relaxation, increase partner trust, and soothe the multitude of struggles presented by pelvic floor dysfunction.
You can have some mind-blowing solo fun, get creative with your partners play, and include them as part of your pelvic floor therapy plan to treat pelvic floor dysfunction! No matter the purpose, theres a size, shape, and speed out there that is perfect for every person. Im sharing my favorite vibrators for pelvic floor physical therapy .
There are so many vibrators on the market that it can seem overwhelming to make the right selection to find the right vibrators for pelvic floor physical therapy.
As a pelvic floor physical therapist who has treated patients with pelvic floor dysfunction for years, Im here to help narrow it down. Below, I give you the low-down on 6 of my top recommended vibrators for pelvic floor physical therapy, plus a full explanation of their features so you can choose the one best suited for your needs and desires.
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It Can Help Improve Urine Flow
Urine should come out in a steady steam, but if a man has a swollen prostate or an inflammation, the prostate can irritate the bladder, causing the urine flow from the bladder through the urethra to be slow or even cut off.
“The improvements seen in urine flow from prostate massage again can be the result of decreasing inflammation in the prostate, which may be contributing to a man’s urinary problems,” says Gonzalez. Men can also try Kegel exercises if they’re experiencing issues with urine flow.
Types Of Training Devices
There are many products available to help train pelvic-floor muscles. Devices can be purchased online and in many drugstores or adult stores. Below are some of the types of devices that our physiotherapists use with patients.
Devices used for trigger-point release
Tight pelvic-floor muscles do not have enough give to properly support the bladder. This can lead to incontinence. Devices that provide trigger-point release can be helpful in relaxing and lengthening the pelvic-floor muscles. Essentially, these devices are thin, G-spot vibrators.
Vaginal dilators
If a patients vagina is too tight or sensitive for trigger point release, physiotherapists use vaginal dilators. Vaginal dilators are tube-shaped devices that are inserted into the vagina. They come in sets to allow progression, but can also be purchased in individual sizes. These devices arent meant for stretching the vagina. Rather, they provide biofeedback, allowing awareness of relaxing muscles away from the dilator. This process is best done under the guidance of a physiotherapist.
Kegel balls
Smart Kegel devices
Smart Kegel devices are interactive. When inserted, they connect wirelessly to an app on your smart phone. The app sends notifications when it is time to do Kegels, leads you through a series of Kegel exercises, and provides feedback on your progress. Some smart Kegel devices provide video-game-like visuals to encourage muscle contraction and relaxation.
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