Bladder Issues: When Should I Go to My Gynecologist?
Bladder issues—also known as urinary incontinence—come in many forms: unexpected leakage, sudden urges to pee, pain while urinating, frequent need to pee but with very little urine coming out, and more. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may want to see your Summit Women’s Health provider. Read on for more guidelines about when it’s time to see your doctor about a bladder issue.
When bladder control is affecting your quality of life
The most important measure for whether you should see your provider is whether the issue is “affecting your quality of life.” You may be thinking: Okay, what does it mean for an issue to affect my quality of life?
One definition of quality of life is “the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events.” So if the issue is impacting your health, comfort, or ability to participate in your life, chances are the answer is “yes.”
Here are some examples of ways bladder issues may affect quality of life:
You carry around an extra pair of underwear, just in case you have an accident.
You avoid certain activities, such as playing with a child or grandchild, because you are worried that a leakage may occur.
You are not sleeping enough because you wake frequently to urinate.
You constantly check for the locations of bathrooms wherever you go, and you worry about being too far from one at any point in time.
Only you can decide whether an issue is affecting your quality of life - but if you believe it is, make an appointment to see your Summit Women’s Health provider.
When there is blood in the urine
Any time urine appears to have blood in it—which could mean it looks pink, red, or brown in the toilet bowl—make an appointment to see your doctor right away. (An exception here would be if you are a woman who is menstruating—there can, of course, be menstrual blood leaking into the toilet bowl as well, so consider waiting to see whether the urine returns to a normal color after flow has stopped.)
When you have trouble making it to the bathroom in time
If you are having trouble getting to a restroom in time to relieve yourself, talk to your provider about your options. One version of urinary incontinence is experiencing a sudden, significant urge to urinate. Additionally, as we age, arthritis and mobility issues that make it difficult to get to the restroom in time become very common. Your doctor can help you address either or both of these problems.
When you experience leakage while laughing, sneezing, or doing an intense physical activity
Intense movements, including exercising and coughing, can put pressure on your bladder and abdominal muscles. In the case of urinary incontinence, this can result in small amounts of urine releasing from the bladder unintentionally. This is especially common as the body goes through changes like pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. One treatment option is pelvic floor physical therapy, which can strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and prevent leakage.
There is hope!
It’s important to note that, for all of the above situations, there are treatments available. Many patients at Summit Women’s Health are able to find a combination of medicines or therapies that allow them to live without incontinence issues. Contact your provider today so that we can start to discuss your options!