- Frequent urination can be caused by a urinary tract infection, inflammation, diabetes, kidney disease, too much caffeine, constipation, bladder stones, an enlarged prostate gland or previous surgery to treat urinary problems. Certain medications can also produce side effects that make you urinate more often. Symptoms of frequent urination include urinating eight or more times in one day and sudden, strong urges to urinate and waking two or more times during the night to urinate. In some cases, after you experience a sudden urge to urinate, you may not be able to reach a bathroom in time.
- Before beginning bladder training, your doctor may ask you to keep a diary detailing any episodes of urine leaking, incontinence and strong urges. Your doctor uses this diary to find a pattern for your condition. You are then instructed to urinate at certain times, based on your chart, to prevent leakage. The combination of bladder training and Kegel exercises can help you delay urination and eventually learn to urinate on a specific schedule.
- These exercises help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and the urinary sphincter, the muscle that keeps urine from being released from the bladder. Kegel exercises are done by repeatedly contracting the muscles you use to urinate. As the muscles become stronger, you develop better control of your problem and will be less likely to accidentally release urine.
- The Oxytrol patch contains oxybutynin, a medication that can relieve the symptoms of overactive bladder. The clear Oxytrol patch is placed on the hip or abdomen twice each week and gradually releases medication into the bloodstream.
- Several medications have been approved to treat frequent urination. Ditropan, Detrusitol and Detrol LA contain oxybutynin chloride and work by reducing involuntary contractions and relaxing the bladder's smooth muscle. Other medications used to treat overactive bladder include Toviaz, Enablex, Vesicare and Sanctura. A gel form of oxybutynin chloride, called Gelnique, is applied to the abdomen, shoulder or thigh and releases a continuous dose of medication for 24 hours. Dry mouth and eyes, headache, blurred vision and urinary retention may occur when taking these medications.
- Sacral nerve stimulation may be used if other treatment methods are unsuccessful. A wire is implanted near the sacral nerve near the tailbone during a surgical procedure. When activated, the stimulator sends mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerve, the nerve that helps control bladder muscles. According to the National Association of Continence, sacral nerve stimulation has been successful in two-thirds of patients with frequency and urgency issues.
- Surgery is used as a last resort for people who have shown no improvement with other treatments. During surgery, sections of bowel replace part of your bladder in an attempt to increase the amount of urine that your bladder can hold. After surgery, you may need to use a catheter at times to empty your bladder.
next post