What is the cause of stress Urinary incontinence? Can pelvic floor exercise improve it

The most common form of Urinary incontinence is stress Urinary incontinence. During activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, and lifting weights, increased abdominal pressure can compress the bladder and open the urethra to cause urine loss. The most common cause of stress Urinary incontinence is the weakening of pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue. These structures support the bladder, and their effectiveness may be affected by pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.

What are the causes of female stress Urinary incontinence?

1. Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy and reduced extra weight and stress in infants. If the baby weighs more than 4 kilograms or uses instruments during delivery, the pelvic floor muscles may also weaken during delivery, especially during prolonged delivery. Women often have Urinary incontinence to some extent during pregnancy and postpartum. Women who do not experience incontinence during pregnancy may also start leaking urine after birth. In fact, more than 30% of women who do not experience incontinence during pregnancy experience some form of bladder leakage after birth.

2. Menopausal period: A decrease in estrogen levels during menopause may lead to dysregulation of the urethral opening and affect closure pressure. A decrease in estrogen levels can also reduce the elasticity of pelvic floor muscles, which may lead to the recurrence of muscle weakness

3. Others: Overweight or obesity can lead to stress Urinary incontinence, because the muscles at the bottom of the pelvis are forced to bear a heavier load. Pelvic floor weakness may also be due to constipation or tension caused by chronic cough. Therefore, smoking is related to stress Urinary incontinence. Because smokers often suffer from chronic cough. It was also found that some women have a genetic tendency for pelvic floor weakness.

Can Urinary incontinence be improved by pelvic floor exercise?

Pelvic floor exercise, also known as Kegel exercise, aims to strengthen pelvic floor muscles by actively tightening and spacing them. Fully activated pelvic floor muscles help support the bladder, uterus and intestines, so that the Urethral sphincters can operate normally. These exercises aim to exercise these muscles and help control the bladder and intestines.

Patients can engage in pelvic floor exercises while sitting, standing, or lying, and the number of exercises required depends on the patient's existing pelvic floor muscle strength. Note that significant improvement may take 2-3 months. Like any exercise plan, women should start by gradually increasing the number of contractions, and they should exercise regularly. Equally important is to activate the patient's pelvic floor muscles as part of good sitting and standing postures, as well as before applying downward pressure to the patient's pelvic floor.