Around 33 million Americans are dealing with bladder issues such as an overactive bladder.
Unexpected and frequent urination can affect the quality of life.
But, the unintentional loss of urine can also significantly impair your sex life.
While an overactive bladder can hinder your sexual habits, it doesn’t have to ruin them.
What you need is a way to learn what it takes to manage the problem and reclaim intimacy.
Here is what research has to say about this highly prevalent urinary issue.
Who Is Most Affected by Urinary Incontinence?
Out of 18 million adults in the U.S. with urinary incontinence, 80% are women.
According to experts, the prevalence of urinary incontinence is anywhere from 9.9% to 36.1%, with twice as many being older female patients compared to older men.
An overactive bladder is also a serious problem in males, with a prevalence rate of 10% to 16%.
The problem is, only a fraction of these cases receive treatment. Those affected are either too ashamed of their bladder control or don’t know how to recognize the problem.
Symptoms of Bladder Issues
Found in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ responsible for storing urine.
It is a vital component of the urinary system, including the urethra, ureters, and kidneys.
For the urinary system to function correctly, it must filter out the extra fluid and waste out of the body.
But, the older we get, the more the bladder changes. The previously elastic bladder tissue is now more rigid and loses its stretchiness, making it difficult to hold the urine typically.
In addition, in older patients, the pelvic floor and bladder wall muscles become significantly weaker, leading to urine leakage during sex.
Before you can regain bladder control, you need to recognize the bladder symptoms of urinary incontinence. Especially when dealing with an overactive bladder.
That way, you will have a better chance at avoiding a urinary problem in the middle of a social setting or event.
The typical symptoms of bladder issues include:
- Bloody or cloudy urine
- Difficulty holding in the urine causing bladder leakage
- Burning or painful sensations during, after, or before urination
- Interrupted sleep in the middle of the night due to a urinary urgency
- The need to urinate eight or more times in a single day
- Inability to empty the bladder
- Weak stream when urinating
These symptoms could occur as a result of strenuous activity or movement. Like when lifting, coughing, or sneezing.
This is stress incontinence and has nothing to do with psychological stress. The pressure to the pelvic floor adds strain to the bladder muscle and leads to urinary incontinence.
If the bladder deteriorates enough, it can prolapse. This is known as bladder prolapse, meaning the bladder lacks the necessary support and descends into the vagina.
People with this complication are prone to urinary discomfort and incontinence.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is also associated with the prostate gland. If the prostate is enlarged, it can cause bladder incontinence.
The typical overactive bladder symptoms are easy to recognize and are often the result of a change in prostate function.
In addition, prostate complications affect urinary control and cause leaking or a weak urine flow or stream.
Other conditions
Other conditions like bladder stones, anxiety, diabetes, and anterior prolapse can have the same result.
They can lead to incontinence and problems with the urinary pathways. In case of a blockage in the bladder muscle, overflow incontinence can occur.
A urinary sphincter can help the muscle regain its control in male patients. In comparison, a urethral sphincter is used for the sphincter muscle in females.
When there is a condition, like interstitial cystitis, for example, then men can experience real pressure in the bladder, accompanied by pelvic discomfort and bladder pain.
The aches from interstitial cystitis can get severe, which can turn into painful bladder syndrome. Interstitial cystitis and similar conditions like voiding dysfunction or an enlarged prostate can affect every aspect of sex.
How Poor Bladder Control Impacts Your Sex Life?
The incomplete emptying, intermittent stream, and constant need to urinate can profoundly impact a person’s ability to enjoy sex.
In addition, these bladder issues can be painful and very uncomfortable to deal with.
According to 2017 research, women with urinary incontinence had bigger odds of abstaining from sex. The bladder symptoms drastically impaired their sexual desire, satisfaction, and comfort.
Based on 2014 reports, around 25% of evaluated women who were sexually active, urine loss negatively influenced their sex life.
This bladder dysfunction can have serious repercussions on a person’s self-esteem. It can disturb their sexual, social, and personal life.
Those affected with urinary incontinence often display a fear of intimacy, as well as low sexual satisfaction.
A different research showed similar results in men. An overactive bladder was associated with poor sexual quality of life and erectile dysfunction.
Based on the reports, patients with an overactive bladder had a higher prevalence of ED, which decreased their sexual enjoyment and sexual activity. The bladder symptoms also drastically impaired men’s sexual satisfaction.
UTI
Then, there is a urinary tract infection. Urinary incontinence can be the result of a UTI. The infection can trigger urethra problems, which can also get in the way of intimacy.
In addition, they can irritate the bladder, making urination a frequent and highly uncomfortable issue.
A urinary tract infection can be transmitted through sex. During intercourse, thrusting takes the bacteria in the urethra, which then moves towards the bladder, elevating the possibility of a urinary tract issue.
For someone who is experiencing these urinary symptoms, intimacy can aggravate their problems.
Intercourse is known for slowing down the healing process of the affected urinary tract muscles. If left untreated, the bladder infection could lead to another infection.
The infections can spread to the kidneys. People with recurrent UTIs will need to keep their urinary system in check.
How to Reclaim Your Sex Life From Incontinence?
Some adaptation strategies to incontinence could decrease the impact that loss of urine is having on sexual activity.
For Women
Female incontinence management involves:
- Pelvic floor muscle training
- Pharmacological treatment
- Surgical procedures (such as vaginal mesh surgery, prolapse surgery, sling surgery, artificial urinary sphincter)
Although research is limited, these are the go-to choices when dealing with stress urinary incontinence.
For Men
In men, however, experts suggest:
- Behavioral techniques (ex. bladder training, double voiding, scheduled urinating, and a change in fluid intake)
- Pelvic floor exercises
- Medication
- Electrical stimulation
- Medical devices
- Interventional therapy
- Surgical procedures (eg. sling procedure, bladder neck suspension)
Each treatment approach is tailored towards a unique health problem. Therefore what may work for others may not work for you.
Only a doctor can determine the best course of action for getting your incontinence back on track so that you can regain your sex life.
Other Methods That Can Help
Relying on incontinence management strategies can also prove helpful. When paired with conventional treatment, you can have a better chance of enjoying intimacy.
Here are a couple of tips that can help you regain your confidence.
These include:
Getting emotionally prepared
Stress can drastically affect your behavior before sex. Therefore, it is important not to let the emotional stressors impair your thoughts and behaviors, despite the ongoing problem.
Skipping bladder-irritating drinks and foods
By avoiding the potential triggers, you can get a chance to enjoy better intercourse.
Track your eating and drinking habits to see what’s irritating the urinary pathways and causing the incontinence.
Apply protective bedding
Even if leakage does happen, the bedding can keep the area in perfect shape and reduce embarrassment.
Doing regular pelvic workouts
Strengthening these muscles should be a top priority when dealing with incontinence. Options like Kegels and squats can help.
Consult with a doctor or a personal trainer to choose the ideal types of workouts for your incontinence problem.
Getting Help for Bladder Issues
If you recognize any urination or urinary discomfort problems, be sure to get treatment as soon as possible.
The sooner you ask for help, the better the outcome at managing the incontinence or urinary retention.
In addition, urinary complications and any bladder issues are much easier to treat in their early stages.
The therapies are much more effective, essential and the symptoms can be easily controlled. Do have in mind, however, that a nerve problem could trigger a urinary condition. Like it is the case with a neurogenic bladder.
So, adequate treatment becomes an essential strategy for managing the urinary condition.
In addition, conditions like acute urinary retention and chronic urinary retention are considered medical emergencies and require adequate treatment.
Contact a urogynecologist or urologist to get the urinary tract and bladder spasms checked out. They can help with urge incontinence, any bladder control problem, and pelvic floor training.
In addition, they can suggest the ideal treatment option for the pelvic organ and the necessary medication for urinary incontinence.
Conclusion
Anyone who struggles with incontinence may worry about their sex life. The fears and insecurities can put a lot of strain on a romantic relationship. Especially for couples who recently started dating.
The leakage can affect the person’s ability to enjoy an orgasm and personal satisfaction.
Although this is a very common problem, it doesn’t have to take over your life. Many options can help. The important thing is to know when to seek treatment.
Now that you are fully aware of the symptoms and signs of urinary difficulties, you will have an easier time managing the problem.
Next Up
Learn How To Train Your Bladder.
