Bladder incontinence treatment in Sydney
Bladder incontinence is a common condition in women at many ages and stages that causes a loss of bladder control, leading to involuntary urine leakage. As Sydney’s leading incontinence physio, Papaya Clinic is here to help women regain control and confidence, improving quality of life. Our qualified pelvic health physiotherapists provide tailored strategies to manage symptoms, specialised pelvic physiotherapy treatment, and holistic healthcare solutions for every woman with urinary incontinence symptoms.
What are the common types of incontinence?
There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
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Stress incontinence is often caused by increased pressure on the bladder due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, which can occur as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, menstruation, menopause or certain medical conditions. The first signs of this common form of incontinence are often subtle – you may notice occasional leaks during activities that put pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects or exercising.
Stress incontinence causes an estimated 50% of incontinence cases in women and can occur regardless of age.
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Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, happens when the bladder muscles contract involuntarily. This leads to a strong, sudden urge to urinate, which may occur frequently during the day and night. This can be a frustrating disruption to daily activities, including sleep.
Urge incontinence develops more commonly in older women, and accounts for a smaller proportion of women with incontinence issues.
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Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence, where women experience symptoms of both types.
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What contributes to bladder or urinary incontinence?
Age
Bladder incontinence is a common issue among older women, often caused by age-related changes in the body. As women age, the pelvic floor muscles – which support the bladder and urethra – may weaken, leading to incontinence. Hormonal changes brought about by menopause can also contribute to bladder sphincter deficiency and increased mobility of the urethra and connective tissues, worsening incontinence.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, incontinence is incredibly common. Hormonal changes, increased pressure on the bladder thanks to the growing uterus, and changes in pelvic floor muscles can all contribute to urinary incontinence. Many pregnant women experience stress incontinence, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy, due to the added strain on the pelvic floor muscles. Childbirth – especially vaginal delivery – can also weaken pelvic floor muscles and lead to bladder incontinence postpartum, which may manifest as stress incontinence, urge incontinence or a combination of both.
Hormonal changes
Some women notice an increase in urinary symptoms – including urgency and frequency – before and during their period. This can be attributed to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, which can affect bladder function. Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or conditions such as endometriosis may experience pelvic pain and increased pressure on the bladder, exacerbating urinary symptoms. While this is typically temporary and resolves after menstruation, it can still be a frustrating symptom.
Prolapse
A pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs weaken, causing one or more of these organs to drop from their normal position. When the bladder prolapses, it can press against the vaginal wall, leading to bladder incontinence. This pressure disrupts the normal function of the bladder and urethra, making it difficult to control the release of urine. As a result, women may experience urinary leakage, urgency, or increased frequency, significantly impacting their quality of life. This condition often arises due to childbirth, menopause, or other factors that weaken the pelvic floor.
We take a comprehensive and personalised approach to your care, and will collaborate with our naturopaths if appropriate for your condition.
How can Papaya Clinic help manage bladder incontinence?
You may be wondering, “How do you fix female incontinence?” – well, at Papaya Clinic, women’s health is our sole focus. That means we’re perfectly placed to offer holistic healthcare solutions that take your specific needs into account across a wide range of health concerns. Treatment for incontinence in women varies depending on the type and severity of symptoms, but typically includes:
Pelvic floor physiotherapy
A pelvic floor physiotherapist will be your best friend when it comes to managing urinary symptoms and achieving continence. A physiotherapist will be able to teach you pelvic floor muscle exercises that can strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and urethra, improving bladder control and reducing urinary leakage.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for stress incontinence. A 2005 research study by physiotherapists from the University of South Australia found that 80% of women who undertook pelvic floor muscle training taught by specialist continence physiotherapists did not require surgical procedures after treatment.
In addition to facilitating pelvic floor exercises, our physiotherapists will also provide strategies for bladder retraining, such as gradually increasing the amount of time between visits to the toilet. Bladder retraining promotes good bladder habits that can be beneficial for both stress and urge incontinence.
Lifestyle modifications
Lifestyle modifications can play a significant role in managing and reducing bladder incontinence symptoms in women. At Papaya Clinic, your local incontinence clinic in Sydney, our team of pelvic physiotherapists educates patients about bladder health and bowel habits. Our nutritionists also provide guidance on weight management and dietary changes, including tips to avoid bladder irritants like caffeine and alcohol, to help improve treatment outcomes.
Additionally, our Sydney pelvic physios are qualified to fit an incontinence pessary, a device inserted into the vagina to support the bladder and reduce incontinence, offering another effective method to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Medication and surgery
In severe cases, we can refer you to a physician for medication to be prescribed that relaxes the bladder or reduces urinary urgency.
Surgical procedures are also an option, which provides additional support to the bladder and urethra.
When it comes to incontinence, physiotherapy is a helpful way to manage your symptoms. Physiotherapists specialising in pelvic floor rehabilitation conduct comprehensive assessments to evaluate pelvic floor muscle function and bladder control, and develop personalised treatment plans accordingly. These plans often include pelvic floor exercises, a pessary fitting , lifestyle modifications, and may involve referral to urologist in some cases. If you happen to be experiencing urinary incontinence, get in touch with our experienced team of women’s health practitioners today for a consultation.
Bladder incontinence treatment in Sydney
Book an appointment
For all new patients, please book an Initial Appointment with one of our practitioners so we can start creating a healthcare treatment plan to help you kickstart your health journey. Any questions, please see our FAQ page!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to regain control of my bladder?
It may take a few months of bladder incontinence treatment for you to feel more in control of your bladder; however, most of our clients experience improvements in the first few weeks of treatment.
Managing urinary incontinence in the long term involves a gradual process that allows your body to adjust to new bladder habits and regain strength in the pelvic muscles. With consistent pelvic floor physiotherapy exercises and changes to your lifestyle, you can regain control of your bladder and resume activities without worry.
Will bladder incontinence treatment be painful?
No, pelvic floor physiotherapy exercises will not cause any pain. You may experience some aching after sessions (especially if your pelvic floor muscles are weak), but this is completely normal and will fade within a few hours or a day.
Other aspects of bladder incontinence treatment, such as dietary changes and bladder training, may initially cause some discomfort, but this is temporary. Our incontinence specialists in Sydney will be with you every step of the way to ensure your wellbeing.
What are the signs of urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence can look like:
Sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate, followed by leakage
Urine leakage when laughing, coughing, or sneezing
Frequent interruptions in your sleep due to an urge to urinate
A need to urinate frequently during the day, often minutes in between visits to the toilet
Urine leakage can vary from a few drops to a large amount. If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, get in touch with our incontinence clinic in Sydney. Early intervention can increase the effectiveness of bladder incontinence treatment.
I have been doing pelvic floor exercises for years, but why do I still leak?
Pelvic floor muscle exercises are essential for improving leakage and other incontinence issues; however, when performed incorrectly, they can exacerbate these issues. It’s common for women to push down through the pelvic floor as opposed to lifting the muscles, which can stretch and strain the pelvic floor tissues, making leakage more likely to occur or become worse.
When performing pelvic floor exercises, having the correct technique is vital. Our pelvic floor physiotherapists will assess your pelvic floor muscles, provide the appropriate exercises, and ensure you are performing them correctly.
Can urinary incontinence get worse if untreated?
Yes – if left untreated, urinary incontinence can get worse, especially in pregnancy and postpartum periods. This means the incontinence issues you may be experiencing will worsen, such as larger leaks or going to the bathroom more often, or you may develop more symptoms. Urinary incontinence rarely goes away on its own and should be treated by a pelvic health physiotherapist as soon as possible.
Is it ever too late to treat urinary incontinence?
No, it is never too late to treat urinary incontinence. While the length of treatment may be quicker when addressed earlier, treating incontinence after having experienced it for months, if not years, can still be effective with the help of a pelvic health physiotherapist.
The physios at Papaya Clinic specialise in pelvic health and provide tailored therapy and exercises to help regain strength in the pelvic muscles for all ages and all stages of urinary incontinence.