Blood in the urine (hematuria)
It can be scary to see blood in your urine. But try to stay calm. Blood in the urine is not usually serious. Still, it is important to see a doctor or nurse. The medical term for blood in the urine is “hematuria.”
Blood in the urine can come from the kidneys (where urine is made) or anywhere in the urinary tract.
Blood in the urine can be caused by lots of problems, including:
- Bladder infection, which often also causes burning or pain when you urinate
- Kidney infection, which often also causes back pain and fever
- Kidney stones, which usually also cause back pain
- Certain kidney diseases
- Intense exercise
- Injury (for example, if you fall off a bike and bruise a kidney)
- Enlargement of the prostate (called “benign prostatic hyperplasia”), which is common in older men
- Cancer of the bladder, prostate, or kidney (cancer is an uncommon cause of blood in the urine, and it usually affects people older than 50)
Sometimes, urine can look as though it is bloody even though it isn’t. This can happen if you eat a lot of beets or food dyes, or if you take certain medicines.
Yes. See your doctor or nurse if you see blood in your urine, or if your urine is pink, red, brownish-red, or the color of tea.
Sometimes, doctors find blood in the urine when they do a routine urine test. That can happen even if the urine looks normal. It means there are microscopic (trace) amounts of blood in the urine.
Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any.
Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of blood in the urine:
- Urine tests– Urine tests can show what kind of cells are in the urine. This can hold clues about what might be going wrong.
- Blood tests– Blood tests can show whether your kidneys are working normally, or if you might have certain diseases.
- CT scan– A CT scan is a special kind of X-ray. It creates a picture of the kidneys and urinary tract. Doctors can use it to check for kidney stones and other problems in the urinary tract.
- Kidney ultrasound– A kidney ultrasound is another way to create a picture of the kidneys. Doctors sometimes use ultrasound instead of a CT scan.
- Cystoscopy– Cystoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the bladder. To do a cystoscopy, the doctor inserts a small tube into the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body. Then they threads the tube up into the bladder. The tube has a tiny camera that projects images of the bladder onto a screen. If the doctor sees anything unusual, they might take a sample of tissue (biopsy) to look at under the microscope.
- Kidney biopsy– During a kidney (renal) biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the kidney to look at under the microscope. The most common way to get the sample is by inserting a needle straight through the skin in the back and into the kidney.
That depends on what seems to have caused the blood in your urine. If you had blood in your urine because you exercised too intensely or because your kidney was bruised, you might not need any treatment. On the other hand, if you have blood in the urine because of a bladder or kidney infection, you will probably need antibiotics.
Urinary tract infections in adults
The urinary tract is the group of organs in the body that handle urine. The urinary tract includes the:
- Kidneys – These are 2 bean-shaped organs that filter the blood to make urine.
- Bladder – This is a balloon-shaped organ that stores urine.
- Ureters – These are 2 tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
- Urethra – This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Urinary tract infections, also called “UTIs,” are infections that affect either the bladder or the kidneys:
- Bladder infections are more common than kidney infections. They happen when bacteria get into the urethra and travel up into the bladder. The medical term for bladder infection is “cystitis.”
- Kidney infections happen when the bacteria travel even higher, up into the kidneys. The medical term for kidney infection is “pyelonephritis.”
Both bladder and kidney infections are more common in females than in males.
The symptoms include:
- Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
- The need to urinate often
- The need to urinate suddenly or in a hurry
- Blood in the urine
The symptoms of a kidney infection can include the symptoms of a bladder infection, but kidney infections can also cause:
- Fever
- Back pain
- Nausea or vomiting
If you think you might have a urinary tract infection, call your doctor or nurse. Sometimes, they can tell if you have a urinary tract infection just by learning about your symptoms.
Your doctor or nurse might do a simple urine test. If they think you might have a kidney infection or are unsure what is causing your symptoms, they might also do a more involved urine test to check for bacteria.
Most urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotic pills. These pills work by killing the germs that cause the infection.
If you have a bladder infection, you will probably need to take antibiotics for 3 to 7 days. If you have a kidney infection, you will probably need to take antibiotics for longer – maybe for up to 2 weeks. If you have a kidney infection, it’s also possible you will need to be treated in the hospital.
Your symptoms should begin to improve within a day of starting antibiotics. But you should finish all the antibiotic pills you get. Otherwise your infection might come back.
If needed, you can also take a medicine to numb your bladder. This medicine eases the pain caused by urinary tract infections. It also reduces the need to urinate.
First, check with your doctor or nurse to make sure that you are really having bladder infections. The symptoms of bladder infection can be caused by other things. Your doctor or nurse will want to see if those problems might be causing your symptoms.
But if you are really dealing with repeated infections, there are things you can do to keep from getting more infections. These include:
- Drinking more fluid – This can help prevent bladder infections.
- Vaginal estrogen – If you are a female who has already been through menopause, your doctor might suggest this. Vaginal estrogen comes in a cream or a flexible ring that you put into your vagina. It can help prevent bladder infections.
Other things that might help include:
- Avoiding spermicides (sperm-killing creams or gels) – Spermicide is a form of birth control. It seems to increase the risk of bladder infections in some females, especially when used with a diaphragm. If you use spermicide and get a lot of bladder infections, you might want to try switching to a different form of birth control.
- Urinating right after sex – Some doctors think this helps, because it helps flush out germs that might get into the bladder during sex. There is no proof it works, but it also cannot hurt.
If you get a lot of bladder infections, and the above methods have not helped, your doctor might give you antibiotics to help prevent infection. But long-term use of antibiotics has downsides, so doctors usually suggest trying other things first.
People often wonder about “natural” products that claim to help prevent bladder infections. These include cranberry juice and other cranberry products, probiotics, vitamin C, and D-mannose. There is not good evidence that these things work. However, there is also no clear evidence that they are harmful. If you have questions about these or other products, talk with your doctor or nurse.
Urinary tract infections in pregnancy
Urinary tract infections, also called “UTIs,” are infections in the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the group of organs in the body that handle urine. It includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
UTIs can affect either the bladder or the kidneys:
- Bladder infections are more common than kidney infections. They happen when bacteria get into the urethra and travel up into the bladder. The medical term for bladder infection is “cystitis.”
- Kidney infections happen when the bacteria travel even higher, up into the kidneys. The medical term for kidney infection is “pyelonephritis.”
UTIs are common during pregnancy. When a pregnant person gets a bladder infection, it is more likely to lead to a kidney infection. This might be because the ureters (the tubes between the bladder and kidneys) get wider during pregnancy. This makes it easier for bacteria to travel farther.
This is the medical term for when there are more bacteria than normal in a person’s urine, but the person does not have symptoms of infection. In pregnant people, doctors check or “screen” for this as part of routine testing. This involves a simple urine test and is usually done near the end of the first trimester.
Symptoms depend on which part of the urinary tract is affected.
If you have a bladder infection, symptoms can include:
- Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
- The need to urinate often
- The need to urinate suddenly or in a hurry
- Blood in the urine
If you have a kidney infection, you might have the above symptoms, too. But kidney infections can also cause:
- Fever
- Back pain
- Nausea or vomiting
Kidney infections during pregnancy can sometimes lead to more serious problems. These can include sepsis (when an infection travels through the whole body) and breathing problems. If you are pregnant and have symptoms of a bladder or kidney infection, tell your doctor or nurse.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics whether or not you are pregnant. Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause the infection.
- If you have a bladder infection, you will probably need to take antibiotic pills. Most are taken for 3 to 7 days, but the exact schedule depends on which antibiotic you get. Your doctor will prescribe one that is safe to take during pregnancy. It’s important to take all your antibiotic pills, even if your symptoms start to improve. After you are done taking the antibiotics, your doctor might test your urine to make sure the bacteria are gone.
- If you have a kidney infection, you will probably need treatment in the hospital. This involves getting antibiotics through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an “IV.” After your symptoms have improved, you will be able to go home from the hospital and switch to antibiotic pills. Your doctor might have you continue to take antibiotics for the rest of your pregnancy. This is to prevent the infection from coming back.
If you are pregnant and your screening test shows bacteria in your urine, your doctor will probably give you antibiotics.
In most cases, people with asymptomatic bacteriuria who are not pregnant do not need treatment. But doctors do recommend antibiotics for pregnant people. That’s because without treatment, asymptomatic bacteriuria can raise the risk of problems with your pregnancy. Treating it with antibiotics also lowers the chances that it will lead to a UTI.
The antibiotic options for asymptomatic bacteriuria are the same as those used to treat bladder infections.
If you get treatment, chances are very good that your baby will be healthy.
There is a small risk of certain problems if you have bacteria in your urine during pregnancy. These include preterm labor, which is when labor starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy, or having a baby that weighs less than they should. Babies who are born preterm or underweight can have health problems.
Kidney infection during pregnancy also increases these risks. This is why it’s important to get treatment if you have asymptomatic bacteriuria or a UTI during pregnancy.
Sometimes. If you often get UTIs, especially if they tend to happen after sex, your doctor might prescribe you antibiotics during pregnancy. Taking 1 dose of your antibiotic after sex might help prevent getting a UTI. Your doctor or nurse can talk to you about whether this is something you should do.
Drinking plenty of fluids can also help prevent UTIs. This is true whether or not you are pregnant.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria
This is the medical term for when there is more bacteria than normal in a person’s urine, but the person does not have symptoms of infection. It is more common in females, older people, and people with certain medical problems. It is also common in people who use a urinary catheter. (A catheter is a tube that is placed into the urethra if a person is not able to urinate normally.)
Asymptomatic bacteriuria usually goes away on its own, and does not lead to problems. In most cases, it does not need treatment.
A urine test can show if there is bacteria in your urine. But most people who don’t have any symptoms don’t need this test. You might find out you have asymptomatic bacteriuria after a urine test if you are pregnant, are planning to have certain types of surgery, or recently had a kidney transplant.
Urinary tract infections, also called “UTIs,” also involve bacteria in the urine. But UTIs cause symptoms and require treatment.
UTIs affect either the bladder or the kidneys. Bladder infections are more common than kidney infections. Bladder infections happen when bacteria get into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) and travel up into the bladder. Kidney infections happen when the bacteria travel even higher, up into the kidneys. UTI symptoms can include pain or a burning feeling when you urinate, the need to urinate often or suddenly, and blood in the urine. Kidney infections can also cause fever, back pain, and nausea or vomiting.
While asymptomatic bacteriuria and UTIs both involve bacteria in the urine, the difference is that people with asymptomatic bacteriuria do not have symptoms. Also, people with UTI symptoms need treatment with antibiotics, but most people with asymptomatic bacteriuria do not (see below).
Probably not. Most people with asymptomatic bacteriuria do not need any treatment. But some people do. That’s because in certain cases, the bacteria could lead to an infection and cause problems.
Your doctor will probably treat you with antibiotics if you:
- Are pregnant
- Are planning to have certain types of surgery involving the urinary tract or genital area
- Have recently had a kidney transplant
If you are not in any of the above groups, and you do not have any symptoms of a UTI, you probably don’t need antibiotics. That’s because:
- Bacteria in the urine usually go away without treatment.
- If you don’t have any symptoms, antibiotics will not change your overall health or make you feel better. They also won’t lower your risk of getting a UTI in the future.
- Antibiotics can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Using antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to “antibiotic resistance.” This is when bacteria change so that antibiotics cannot work on them.
No. There is no proven way to prevent asymptomatic bacteriuria. And most people who have it don’t even know it, since it does not cause any symptoms and usually goes away on its own.
Kidney stones are just what they sound like: small stones that form inside the kidneys. They form when salts and minerals that are normally in the urine build up and harden. A kidney stone can form when high levels of certain substances (calcium, oxalate, cystine, or uric acid) are present in the urine. Stones can also form when these substances are at normal levels, especially if you are not making a lot of urine (eg, not drinking enough fluids). The substances form tiny crystals, which become anchored in the kidney and gradually increase in size, forming a kidney stone. A stone can remain in the kidney for years or decades without causing any symptoms or damage to the kidney.
Typically, the stone will eventually move through the urinary tract and is passed out of the body in the urine. A stone may cause pain if it becomes stuck and blocks the flow of urine. Large stones do not always pass on their own and sometimes require a minimally invasive procedure to remove them.
Kidney stones usually get carried out of the body when you urinate. But sometimes they can get stuck on the way out. If that happens, the stones can cause:
- Pain in your side or in the lower part of your belly
- Blood in the urine (which can make urine pink or red)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain when you urinate
- The need to urinate in a hurry
If your doctor or nurse thinks you have kidney stones, they can order an imaging test that can show the stones.
Each person’s treatment is a little different. The right treatment for you will depend on:
- The size, type, and location of your stone
- How much pain you have
- How much you are vomiting
If your stone is big or causes severe symptoms, you might need to stay in the hospital. If your stone is small and causes only mild symptoms, you might be able to stay home and wait for it to pass in the urine. If you stay home, you will probably need to drink a lot of fluids. Plus, you might need to take pain medicines or medicines that make it easier to pass the stone.
Stones that do not pass on their own can be treated with:
- A machine that uses sound waves to break up stones into smaller pieces. This is called “shock wave lithotripsy.” This procedure does not involve surgery, but it can be painful.
- A special kind of surgery that makes very small holes in your skin. During this surgery, the doctor passes tiny tools through the holes and into the kidney. Then they remove the stone. This is called “percutaneous nephrolithotomy.”
- A thin tube that goes into your body the same way urine comes out. Doctors use tools at the end of the tube to break up or remove stones. This is called “ureteroscopy.”
After you have had a kidney stone, you are more likely to have another one in the future. Your health care provider will evaluate whether you may have certain health problems that increase your risk of kidney stones. This may include:
- Analysis of passed stones – If you have passed and saved one or more stones, they should be analyzed to determine the composition (eg, calcium oxalate, uric acid, etc).
- Urine tests – Your provider may request that you perform a 24-hour urine collection; this involves saving all the urine you produce over a 24-hour period, which then gets analyzed at the laboratory.
- Other tests – Your provider may also recommend additional tests (eg, blood or imaging tests) if an underlying condition is suspected.
Depending on what your provider thinks may have caused your kidney stone, they may suggest doing one or more of the following to lower your risk of having another stone in the future:
- Increasing fluid intake – Drinking more fluids can help lower your risk of kidney stones. The goal is to increase the amount of urine that flows through your kidneys and also to lower the concentrations of substances that promote stone formation. While you can vary the types of beverages you drink, sugar-sweetened beverages (such as soda and sports drinks) actually seem to increase the risk of kidney stones; they have other negative health effects as well and should therefore be avoided.
- Changing your diet – You may be advised to make changes in your diet; this will depend upon the type of kidney stone you have and results of your 24-hour urine collection tests.
●Preventive medication – You may be advised to take a medication to reduce the risk of future stones.
The following instructions will guide you in the proper collection of a 24-hour urine specimen. In some instances, you will be asked to collect two or three consecutive 24-hour urine samples.
- You should collect every drop of urine during each 24-hour period. It does not matter how much or little urine is passed each time, as long as every drop is collected.
- Begin the urine collection in the morning after you wake up, after you have emptied your bladder for the first time.
- Urinate (empty the bladder) for the first time and flush it down the toilet. Note the exact time (eg, 6:15 AM). You will begin the urine collection at this time.
- Collect every drop of urine during the day and night in an empty collection bottle. Store the bottle at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- If you need to have a bowel movement, any urine passed with the bowel movement should be collected. Try not to include feces with the urine collection. If feces does get mixed in, do not try to remove the feces from the urine collection bottle.
- Finish by collecting the first urine passed the next morning, adding it to the collection bottle. This should be within ten minutes before or after the time of the first morning void on the first day (which was flushed). In this example, you would try to void between 6:05 and 6:25 on the second day.
If you need to urinate one hour before the final collection time, drink a full glass of water so that you can void again at the appropriate time. If you have to urinate 20 minutes before, try to hold the urine until the proper time.
Please note the exact time of the final collection, even if it is not the same time as when collection began on day 1.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
“Benign prostatic hyperplasia” is the medical term for an enlarged prostate. The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis). This gland often gets bigger a person gets older.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called “BPH,” is a common problem. It has nothing to do with prostate cancer. In fact, the word “benign” means “not cancer.”
Many people with BPH have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Needing to urinate often, especially at night
- Having trouble starting to urinate (this means that you might have to wait or strain before urine will come out)
- Having a weak urine stream
- Leaking or dribbling urine
- Feeling as though your bladder is not empty even after you urinate
In rare cases, BPH makes it so a person cannot urinate at all. This is a serious problem. If you cannot urinate at all, call your doctor right away.
Yes. Your doctor can check for BPH by doing a rectal exam. That means that they will put a finger into your anus to check how big your prostate is and what it feels like. Your doctor might also do urine or blood tests to see if your symptoms might be caused by another problem, such as a bladder infection.
Yes. You might be able to improve your BPH symptoms by:
- Reducing the amount of fluid you drink, especially just before bed
- Limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink. These drinks can make you urinate more often.
- Avoiding cold and allergy medicines that contain antihistamines or decongestants. These medicines can make the symptoms of BPH worse.
- Doing something doctors call “double voiding.” That means that after you empty your bladder, you wait a moment, relax, and try to urinate again.
If you have symptoms like the ones listed above, see your doctor or nurse to find out if BPH is really what’s causing them. Those symptoms can be caused by other problems, so it’s important to have them checked out.
If you do have BPH, your doctor can offer you different treatment options. But you don’t have to get treated if your symptoms do not bother you. Unless you lose the ability to urinate completely, leaving BPH untreated will not hurt you.
Treatments options include:
- Watchful waiting– Watchful waiting means that you wait to see if your symptoms change, but you don’t have treatment right away. If you choose this option, you can decide to try treatment later if your symptoms get worse or if your symptoms start to bother you more.
- Medicines– There are 2 types of medicine commonly used to treat BPH. One type relaxes the muscles that surround the urethra. The other type keeps the prostate from growing more or even helps the prostate shrink. In some cases, doctors suggest taking both types of medicine at the same time. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might also suggest other medicines.
- Surgery– There are several ways to treat BPH with surgery. They can involve removing some of the prostate, shrinking the prostate, or making the urethra wider so more urine can flow through. For most of these procedures, a doctor inserts special tools into the urethra.
The right treatment for you will depend on:
- How much your symptoms bother you
- How you feel about the different treatment options
If your symptoms don’t bother you very much, you might not need any treatment. On the other hand, if your symptoms do bother you, you probably should get treated.
Doctors often suggest trying medicines first to see if they help. If medicines don’t do enough, surgery is also an option. As you think about your choices, remember that treatments can have a downside. Medicines can cause side effects, for example. And surgery has some general risks, and can also sometimes cause sexual problems and other side effects.
When you’re thinking about which treatment to have, ask your doctor or nurse these questions:
- How likely is it that this treatment will improve my symptoms?
- What are the risks or side effects of this treatment?
- What happens if I don’t have this treatment?
Urinary incontinence in males
“Urinary incontinence” is the term doctors use when a person leaks urine or loses bladder control.
Incontinence is a very common problem, but it is not a normal part of aging. If you have urinary incontinence, you do not have to “just live with it.” There are treatments and things you can do on your own to stop or reduce urine leaks.
There are different types of urinary incontinence. Each causes different symptoms. In males, the 4 main types are:
- Stress incontinence – With stress incontinence, you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or do anything that “stresses” the belly. Some people get this type of incontinence after having surgery for prostate disease.
- Urgency incontinence– With urgency incontinence, you feel a strong need to urinate all of a sudden. This is also known as “urge incontinence.” Often the “urge” is so strong that you can’t make it to the bathroom in time. “Overactive bladder” is another term for having a sudden, frequent urge to urinate. People with overactive bladder might or might not actually leak urine.
- Mixed incontinence– With mixed incontinence, you have symptoms of both stress and urgency incontinence.
- Incontinence caused by incomplete bladder emptying– This is when you cannot fully empty their bladder when you urinate. This can happen if you have a condition called “benign prostatic hyperplasia,” which makes the prostate grow larger than normal. An enlarged prostate can block the flow of urine.
Yes. Here are some steps that can help reduce urine leaks:
- If you drink lots of liquids, ask your doctor or nurse if it is okay for you to reduce the amount you drink. This might help, especially in the hours before you go to bed.
- Cut down on any foods or drinks that make your symptoms worse. Some people find that alcohol, caffeine, or spicy or acidic foods irritate the bladder.
- Try to lose weight, if you are overweight. Your doctor or nurse can help you do this in a healthy way.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to your goal level as possible.
- If you take medicines called diuretics, plan ahead. These medicines increase the need to urinate. Try to take them when you know you will be near a bathroom for a few hours. If you keep having problems with leaking because of diuretics, ask your doctor if you can take a lower dose or switch to a different medicine.
These techniques can also help with bladder control:
- Bladder retraining– During bladder retraining, you go to the bathroom at scheduled times. For instance, you might decide that you will go every hour. You would make yourself go every hour, even if you didn’t feel like you needed to. And you would try to wait until a whole hour had passed if you needed to go sooner. Then, once you got used to going every hour, you would increase the amount of time you waited in between bathroom visits. Over time, you might be able to “retrain” your bladder to wait 3 or 4 hours between bathroom visits.
- Pelvic muscle exercises– Pelvic muscle exercises strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. When done right, these exercises can help. But people often do them wrong. Ask your doctor or nurse how to do them right. They might suggest working with a physical therapist who has special training in these exercises.
Yes. Your doctor or nurse can find out what might be causing your incontinence. They can also suggest ways to help the problem.
Ask your doctor or nurse if any of the medicines you take could be causing your symptoms. Some medicines can cause incontinence or make symptoms worse.
Some people choose to wear pads or special underwear. These can help if you accidentally leak urine once in a while. But they can also cause skin irritation if you use them a lot. If you have incontinence, the best thing to do is talk to your doctor or nurse about how to treat it.
Your treatment options depend on what type of incontinence you have. Some of the treatment options include:
- Medicines to relax the bladder – These medicines can help with urgency incontinence.
- Medicines to improve urine flow – These medicines can help with incontinence related to an enlarged prostate.
- Surgery to
- Repair the tissues that support the bladder or hold it in place
- Improve the flow of urine, for example by removing part of the prostate gland
- Repair the muscles that control urine flow
- Electrical stimulation of the nerves that relax the bladder
- Devices, such as:
- A “condom catheter” – These fits over the penis like a condom. It collects urine into a bag that is strapped to the leg.
- A penis clamp – This squeezes the penis to keep urine from leaking out. It can be used only for a certain amount of time.
Many people with incontinence can recover bladder control or at least reduce the amount of leakage they have. The most important thing is to speak up about it to your doctor or nurse. Then work with them to find a treatment or therapy that helps you.
Urinary incontinence in females
“Urinary incontinence” is the medical term for when a person leaks urine or loses bladder control.
Incontinence is a very common problem, but it is not a normal part of aging. If you have this problem, there are treatments that can help. There are also things you can do on your own to stop or reduce urine leakage so you don’t have to “just live with it.”
There are different types of incontinence. Each causes different symptoms. The 3 most common types are:
- Stress incontinence– With stress incontinence, you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or do anything that “stresses” the belly. Stress incontinence is most common in females, especially those who have had a baby.
- Urgency incontinence– With urgency incontinence, you feel a strong need to urinate all of a sudden. This is also known as “urge incontinence.” Often the “urge” is so strong that you can’t make it to the bathroom in time. “Overactive bladder” is another term for having a sudden, frequent urge to urinate. People with overactive bladder might or might not actually leak urine.
- Mixed incontinence– With mixed incontinence, you have symptoms of both stress and urgency incontinence.
Yes. Here are some steps that can help reduce urine leaks:
- Reduce the amount of liquid you drink, especially a few hours before bed.
- Cut down on any foods or drinks that make your symptoms worse. Some people find that alcohol, caffeine, or spicy or acidic foods irritate the bladder.
- Try to lose weight, if you are overweight. Your doctor or nurse can help you do this in a healthy way.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to your goal level as possible.
- If you take medicines called diuretics, plan ahead. These medicines increase the need to urinate. Try to take them when you know you will be near a bathroom for a few hours. If you keep having problems with leaking because of diuretics, ask your doctor if you can take a lower dose or switch to a different medicine.
These techniques can also help improve bladder control:
- Bladder retraining– During bladder retraining, you go to the bathroom at scheduled times. For instance, you might decide that you will go every hour. You would make yourself go every hour, even if you didn’t feel like you needed to. And you would try to wait until a whole hour had passed if you needed to go sooner. Then, once you got used to going every hour, you would increase the amount of time you waited in between bathroom visits. Over time, you might be able to “retrain” your bladder to wait 3 or 4 hours between bathroom visits.
- Pelvic muscle exercises– Pelvic muscle exercises strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. When done right, these exercises can help. But people often do them wrong. Ask your doctor or nurse how to do them right. Your doctor might suggest working with a physical therapist who has special training in these exercises.
Yes. Your doctor or nurse can find out what might be causing your incontinence. They can also suggest ways to relieve the problem.
When you speak to your doctor or nurse, ask if any of the medicines you take could be causing your symptoms. Some medicines can cause incontinence or make it worse.
Some people choose to wear pads or special underwear. These can help if you accidentally leak urine once in a while. But they can also cause skin irritation if you use them a lot. If you have incontinence, the best thing to do is talk to your doctor or nurse about how to treat it.
The treatment options differ depending on what type of incontinence you have. Some of the options include:
- Medicines to relax the bladder
- Surgery to repair the tissues that support the bladder or to improve the flow of urine
- Electrical stimulation of the nerves that relax the bladder
Urinary incontinence is more common in people who have been through menopause. (Menopause is when you stop having monthly periods). Some people have vaginal dryness after menopause. If this is the case for you, a treatment called vaginal estrogen might help.
Many people with incontinence can regain bladder control or at least reduce the amount of leakage they have. The most important thing is to speak up about it to your doctor or nurse. Then work with them to find an approach that helps you.
