Women with urinary incontinence should seek immediate help

GEORGE TOWN: Urogynecologists are advising women with urinary incontinence to seek immediate medical help instead of suffering in silence.

Penang Medical College (PMC) Associate Professor Dr S. B. Sivakumar said many think there is no treatment available or dismiss the problem as an issue of no importance.

"Suffering with this is unnecessary as medical treatment is available," he told theSun at the recently concluded International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) Regional Symposium.

Elaborating, National University Singapore (NUS) Associate Professor Dr Roy Ng said urinary incontinence was not something to be taken lightly as elderly women who rushed to the toilet may slip and fall on their own urine resulting in broken bones.

"They will then be admitted into the hospital for treatment which may lead to more complications.

"The patient may get an infection which may result in kidney failure or sepsis (toxins in blood or tissues) which can lead to death," he said gravely.

Ng also noted urinary incontinence could cost families financially in the long run as bedsheets, mattresses and clothes have to be changed regularly.

"Many nursing homes did not want to take in patients who suffer from the condition," he added.

Figures released during the symposium showed urinary incontinence to be the number one chronic medical problem faced by women, followed by hypertension and diabetes.

This, according to Westmead Hospital (Australia) Pelvic Floor Unit director Dr Jenny King, was mirrored worldwide with 30% of women surveyed found to be suffering from the condition.

"It was once thought Chinese women did not have urinary incontinence but this is not true, they just did not complain," she said adding Japanese women also experienced the issue.

Doctors theSun spoke to said treatment varies from case to case but ranged from the invasive like corrective surgery to the non-invasive like pelvic exercises or taking medication.

theSun tried to talk to women suffering from the problem but many were reluctant to share their experiences except saying it is a problem with them having to run to toilet very often and at times even wetting their clothes which was very embarrassing.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Associate Professor Dr Zalina Nusee, whose sub-speciality is urogynecology, said women are shy to seek treatment as it involved their private part and furthermore some think that it is part of ageing.