Interventions and treatments
Interventions and treatments
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To determine the extent of the problem, a bladder diary or bowel diary can be used to record what is happening.
The information can be shared with a doctor or specialist which will help determine what happens next.
A doctor may also perform a physical examination, take a urine or stool sample or a blood test to check kidney health.
A doctor may also perform a physical examination, take a urine or stool sample or a blood test to check kidney health.
Ultrasounds can also be used.
The type of treatment will depend on the type of incontinence and how bad the symptoms are. The first steps will usually include:
Pelvic floor muscle training
This is extremely important for both men and women. These are also called Kegel exercises. Because of the location of the pelvic floor, these are used for both urinary and bowel incontinence.
Bladder training
This is offered to people diagnosed with urge incontinence. It can be combined with pelvic floor muscle training for mixed urinary incontinence. Bladder training involves increasing the amount of time between feeling the urge to urinate and actually urinating.
Bowel training
This involves things like:
Making dietary changes
Creating a regular routine for going to the toilet
Learning ways to encourage the emptying of bowels, for example, changing how people sit on the toilet.
Lifestyle changes
We looked at healthy bladder and bowel functions in section 2. We will remind ourselves on these in a moment.
Medication
This can be prescribed for stress incontinence, particularly where a person is not able to have surgery. It can also be prescribed for urge incontinence. Taking medication for incontinence can present side effects like dry mouth, constipation, extreme tiredness.
Medicines can also be prescribed to reduce bowel incontinence, for example:
Loperamide to relieve diarrhoea
Laxatives to relieve constipation.
Some medicines can be bought over the counter from pharmacies but they may not be suitable for the people you support. They should only be taken following the advice of a doctor or continence specialist
Surgery
Surgery and minor procedure options are available for urinary and bowel incontinence. If pelvic floor muscle training, bladder or bowel training and lifestyle changes are unsuccessful, surgery may be considered.
Pelvic floor muscle training is something that everyone should practisse every day.
Pelvic floor muscle training is something that everyone should practisse every day.
This short video explains the pelvic floor and how to exercise.
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