 Advice & Support - AS02 - Managing Urinary Incontinence

Managing Urinary Incontinence

But the truth was that I hadn’t been going about my normal life for quite some time due to my incontinence. I have multiple sclerosis, which means I have limited bladder control due to nerve damage, and when I have to go, it comes on all of a sudden and without warning. Imagine leaving the house when you risk emptying your bladder at any minute and with very short notice. That’s what I was dealing with.

My First Day Wearing Adult Incontinence Pants 01

 Are there any foods you should eat or avoid if you are suffering from overactive bladder? Click here to learn more!

ADP - Overactive Bladder Diet: See What You Should Eat and Avoid

Overactive Bladder Diet: See What You Should Eat and Avoid

Last week I experienced a first. I wore adult incontinence pants. And you know what? I liked them!

It wasn’t an easy decision – mainly because I was a little reluctant to admit that I was now that person, the one who wore adult nappies. In my mind, they were only for the elderly. [Adult incontinence pants](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-pants) for a woman like me? No, thank you.

ADP - My First Day Wearing Adult Incontinence Pants

My First Day Wearing Adult Incontinence Pants

ADP - Using incontinence pads to minimise effects of sensitive bladder

Using incontinence pads to minimise effects of sensitive bladder

Do you ever feel a sudden, intense urge to urinate, even shortly after using the bathroom? If so, you may be experiencing [overactive bladder](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems), also referred to as bladder spasms or bladder cramps. Symptoms include not only sudden, involuntary urges to urinate but also frequent trips to the bathroom during the day and night. However, it's important to understand that these symptoms are not caused by serious conditions such as urinary tract infections, cancer, or kidney stones. This is a functional issue, meaning that spasms in the urethra or bladder muscles are a matter of management and treatment rather than a sign of a severe illness. Although remember that if you have any concerns about bladder weakness, your first step should always be to consult your GP.


Understanding bladder spasms

ADP - #WeeNeedToTalk

#WeeNeedToTalk

ADP - Bladder spasms â€“ symptoms, causes and treatment

Advice from our Experts

ADP - How to talk about sensitive bladder?

ADP - Kegel Exercises for Better Bladder Control

Kegel Exercises for Better Bladder Control

ADP - Incontinence Care Advice

Incontinence Care Advice

If you have a sensitive bladder, there’s no need to avoid drinking in order to reduce the urge to visit the loo. Keep hydrated! Drinking a lot of water can increase the frequency and urgency of urination. But not consuming enough makes your urine more concentrated, both of which boost your chances of bladder irritation. That, in turn, can heighten your risk of incontinence. Also, drinking water can help reduce odours.

Drink Just Enough

ADP - 7 Natural Remedies for an Overactive Bladder

Certain foods can irritate your bladder and urinary tract, causing it to act up. Since this is so specific to each individual, you can best track your reactions by keeping a diary of foods that help overactive bladder.

A common cause for overactive bladder is a sensitivity or intolerance to gluten, a component in foods made from wheat, rye and barley. Test it by avoiding these foods and seeing if it makes a difference:

- cereals and oats

- bread and breaded dishes

- noodles and soups

- alcohol

Of course, what you drink also impacts your bladder function. While drinking water has many benefits, filling your overactive bladder with more fluid means more urination.

Speak to your doctor about your how much you drink. You may need to track how much fluid goes into your body, via food or drink, to set the right limit for you personally. Drinking too little will concentrate your urine and heighten bowel irritation.

Here are some tips to help you know when and what to drink:

- Spread out your sips throughout the day, including between meals.

- Do not tempt yourself by carrying a large water bottle.

- Fill your glass half-way or use a smaller cup.

- Sip your drinks to control your intake.

- Check the colour of your urine to see if it is the ideal shade of light yellow, or almost colourless.

- Factor in fluids from fruit, vegetables and soups.

Carbonated drinks may worsen symptoms, so avoid them until you have a better idea of the reactions your body has to other foods. You may wish to curtail your pre-bedtime beverages as well, so you can make fewer trips to the toilet during the night.

How diet can affect your overactive bladder

Once you’ve learned how to do pelvic floor exercises, after 4–6 weeks of working out your pelvic floor muscles regularly, you may start to notice an improvement in your urinary incontinence symptoms.

If you’ve made a habit of pelvic floor exercises and don’t notice an improvement in your sensitive bladder symptoms, it’s time to talk to your doctor. They may recommend combining pelvic floor exercises with other treatments like sensitive bladder training or other medications, devices or procedures to help you to manage your incontinence.

Check also [how to reduce urinating at night](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/urinary-incontinence-in-women/how-to-reduce-urinating-at-night)

What’s next?

Up until a week ago, if I really needed to go out, I would put an incontinence pad on, but it often leaked, which meant that I sometimes leaked onto my clothing or found little liquid stains on the chair when I got up. So, little by little, I started turning down social invitations, asking my husband to run most errands, and choosing to stay in more often. I was missing out on a lot of my life.

The tipping point for me was when my daughter invited me to my granddaughter’s birthday party at a roller rink. While I wasn’t sure I could get through the event without my bladder leaking, my granddaughter is growing up quickly, and I just couldn’t keep missing out on important events like this one.

I talked it over with my husband. He suggested I try a different kind of protection [adult incontinence pants](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-pants) for women. I was reluctant. I assumed they would be uncomfortable and so bulky that everyone would know I was wearing them.

Thankfully, I found Always Discreet underwear in my local supermarket and I was very impressed. Not only were they comfortable, but they were not at all like the big, bulky adult nappies I had pictured in my head. They were thin, feminine adult incontinence pants for women like myself.

Secretly armed with my Always Discreet adult incontinence pants on under my clothes, I went to that birthday party and had a blast! We took lots of pictures, laughed, and, boy, did I sing my heart out when that cake was brought out!

Now I wear them every day. As a result, I have started going out much more. Being there for my granddaughter on her birthday was the start of it. My husband and I have seen many films at the cinema, I’ve met some old friends for coffee, and next week I will be taking a long car journey to visit my sister. It feels great to have my life back. Adult incontinence pants have made my incontinence manageable without sacrificing comfort, discretion, or my dignity. Now my incontinence is just another detail of my life, but it doesn’t control me. Sure, a little bit of wee happens. But now I’m prepared!

My First Day Wearing Adult Incontinence Pants 02

The urinary tract is responsible for the production, storage, and elimination of urine from the body. It consists of two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, which is then transported to the bladder through the ureters. The bladder stores urine until it is ready to be eliminated through the urethra. The muscles of the bladder and urethra work together to control the release of urine. Normally, the bladder can hold up to 400-600  millilitres of urine, and the average person urinates between 4-7 times a day. At night, the body produces less urine, and most people can go without urinating for 6-8 hours. However, in individuals with nocturia, the urinary tract does not function properly, leading to frequent urination at night.

How does the urinary tract normally work?

Pelvic floor exercise routine is the best way to start practising in everyday life. Here are some ideas for fitting pelvic floor exercise program into your schedule. Try to work your pelvic floor exercises into existing routines to help to make your pelvic floor stronger. That way, you can use it when you need it. When exercising, remember an important rule - focus only on your pelvic floor muscles, do not tighten your abdominal muscles, buttocks or thighs during your workout.

<ul>
 <li>Driving. As long as your pelvic floor exercises don’t distract you from driving, flex and release on your way to the shops, as you leave the bank, or en route to any other errands you run regularly.</li>
 <li>Cooking. Try to focus on your pelvic floor muscles as you carry out simple, routine cooking tasks, like stirring a pot or washing up dishes.</li>
 <li>Watching TV. Have favourite programmes you never miss? Exercise as you view no one around you even knows you’re busy re–claiming control of your bladder!</li>
 <li>At work. Do you work at a desk for extended periods? Use any down time to work out those pelvic floor muscles.</li>
 <li>Reading. Whether it’s the morning paper or that newest novel you can’t put down, reading as you exercise helps your repetitions to fly by.</li>
 <li>Bedtime. As you wind down each night, finish your last set of pelvic floor exercises before drifting off to sleep. If you keep at it, the nightmares of bed pads may be a thing of the past.</li>
</ul>

Making pelvic floor exercises routine

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are not difficult, and can produce impressive results. Click here and learn how to do pelvic floor exercises step by step.

ADP - Pelvic floor exercise for women step by step

Pelvic floor exercise for women step by step

While it may feel overwhelming at first, a number of straightforward lifestyle changes can help you manage your overactive bladder and bring big relief. Life is too sweet to let something like bladder irritation stand in your way of living it to the fullest. Try out these overactive bladder treatments below.

Exercise your pelvic floor:

The pelvic floor is a system of muscles and ligaments that form a sort of basket to support your urinary system. Exercises for your pelvic floor – you may know them as Kegels – can strengthen the muscles enough to help overcome spasming. Just like with any physical exercise, results are seen over time. Practice makes perfect. Keep at it and results may be right around the corner. Read about how to perfect your pelvic floor exercise routine here.

Stay hydrated:

This may seem counterintuitive as an overactive bladder treatment. After all, if you have frequent and intense urges to urinate, why would you want to drink more? However, when you don’t drink enough water, your urine becomes more concentrated and acidic, which can irritate your bladder. So, be sure to drink enough every day.

Adopt a bladder-friendly diet:

Certain foods and beverages can act as irritants to your urinary system (mainly by making your urine more acidic, prompting the urge to urinate more often). These include citrus, alcohol, caffeine, fizzy beverages like seltzer and carbonated soft drinks, and even chocolate. Give your bladder a break by limiting these foods. Avoiding foods that are highly acidic like tomatoes and cranberries (Surprise! Drinking cranberry juice actually isn’t that great of an idea despite popular wisdom) can also ease your symptoms. Spicy food is another big culprit. Keeping your food bladder-friendly is a straightforward overactive bladder treatment to get control back in your hands. 

Try bladder training:

Bladder training can both lengthen the amount of time between your bathroom trips, and increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold, giving you more bladder control. Start by holding your urine for five minutes every time you feel the urge to go. When that starts to feel easy, try holding it for ten minutes, and gradually work your way up, strengthening your bladder muscles over time. Another way to train your bladder is to make a ‘go schedule’ in which you use the bathroom on a fixed schedule – say, every hour at first – whether or not you feel the urge to urinate. Once you feel comfortable with your schedule, try increasing the amount of time between each scheduled bathroom visit. 

Double void:

The double-void technique is a way of urinating that ensures you have voided all of the urine from your bladder, so you won’t be caught off guard with an urgent need to go just a short time after leaving the bathroom. Here’s how to do it. After you’ve finished urinating, remain on the toilet for 30 seconds, and urinate again.

Wear bladder leakage products:
 
Ok. This one you don’t have to do at home. Pads and liners give you incredible leakage protection and are compact enough to be stashed in your purse so you are always ready to dance, smile, laugh, and, most importantly, not be worried about little leaks throughout the day

What can you do about it?

For carers, urinary incontinence care can be a very sensitive issue. It’s difficult for many older people to handle on their own and frequent leaks can be embarrassing – even humiliating. So how can carers help ease their loved one into trying urinary incontinence products [liners](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-liners), [pads](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-pads) or [underwear?](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-pants) Here are some suggestions on how to help your loved one address their urinary incontinence with dignity, comfort, and support.

ADP - How to Stop Bedwetting in Adults

How to Stop Bedwetting

#WeeNeedToTalk 

It might seem that we do not use our pelvic floor muscles in everyday life . Nothing could be further from the truth. This structure plays a very important role. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are not difficult and can produce impressive results - and in a short time. With regular gymnastics, their function improves, and thus unpleasant discomforts subside.

Take back control of your sensitive bladder! Physical therapy is one of the best ways. The easiest type of therapy is pelvic floor exercise plan, which strengthen your pelvic floor and help treat both stress incontinence and urge incontinence. So let us help you how do to pelvic floor exercises for women – read on for more!

Many women – in fact, 1 in 3 – experience some form of urinary incontinence. Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can greatly increase your ability to avoid little leaks throughout the day. Pelvic floor exercises for women can help you regain control of your bladder, your life and your self-esteem, making those little leaks more manageable.

Stress incontinence is the result of a pelvic floor weakened by things like childbirth or being overweight, and leads to little leaks sneaking out when pressure is placed on the bladder during everyday activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.

Stress incontinence

A woman holding her lower

Encourage your partner to ask questions and raise any concern so you can work together to deal with bladder sensitivity. This means you have someone to talk to about your sensitive bladder, and you have the practical support you need.

*Claire, Administrator, 35: "It’s been nine years and I don’t keep my sensitive bladder to myself any more – now I have my husband and closest friends to turn to for support.”*

*Mary, Cleaner, 44: "It’s taken me a while, but now I speak to my husband, family and my closest friends about my bladder sensitivity.”*

Regardless of what type of adult incontinence or bladder leakage you may have, stay dry and confident with [Always Discreet incontinence liners, pads and underwear](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-products/incontinence-liners/). No matter which level of absorbency you need, their innovative protection locks away wetness and odours, so you don’t have to miss out on all that life has to offer.

Keep talking.

Having an overactive bladder can be uncomfortable, and frankly a little annoying. There may be nothing more tiring than running back and forth to the bathroom a zillion times a day. While feeling the sudden urge to urinate multiple times a day isn’t exactly a walk in the park, it doesn’t have to slow you down. Identifying the symptoms and understanding the causes of overactive bladder is key for putting together a bladder management plan that doesn’t hurt your daily routine.

Overactive Bladder Treatments to Fit Your Lifestyle

ADP - How to deal with urinary incontinence?

How to deal with urinary incontinence?

They make having a good time less ‘risky’

OG-How-to-Reduce-Urinating-at-Night

In order to quell irritation, you need to eat a mix of non-acidic foods that are rich in vitamins and protein. Fibre-rich foods will also help, since they prevent constipation, relieving your bladder of extra pressure.

To pinpoint what eases your symptoms, try these foods:

- Best fruits: apples, bananas, blackberries, coconut, grapes, strawberries and watermelon

- Best vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, kale, lettuce and peppers

- Best fibre-rich foods: almonds, artichoke, barley, beans, bran, lentils, oats and raspberries

- Best proteins: chicken, eggs, fish and tofu

To keep your dishes from tasting the same, experiment with different seasonings, while avoiding potential irritants.

Foods that help overactive bladder

ADP - How to deal with bladder problems | Always Discreet

How to Deal with Bladder Problems

Bladder spasms – symptoms, causes and treatment 

Overflow incontinence, more common in men than in women, occurs when your bladder doesn’t successfully empty itself all the way due to a blockage or muscle weakness, so it leaks when it is full –even though you may not feel the urge to urinate.

Many women experience a mix of two different kinds of incontinence. This can also be known as mixed incontinence.

Overflow incontinence

Woman doing pelvic floor exercises: Bird dogs

Pelvic floor exercise step by step: Bird dogs

How to talk about sensitive bladder?

How to deal with bladder problems | Always Discreet

By practising at least three times a day, these exercises can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and give you more control over your sensitive bladder when you need it.

Pelvic floor Excercises

It is common that bladder leakage at night is a form of overflow incontinence. If you experience overflow incontinence, the involuntary release of urine from an overly full bladder, you likely experience urine leaks – a lot! Even at night. You naturally have to use the bathroom less while you’re sleeping than when you’re awake. This is because your body produces a hormone called ADH – anti-diuretic hormone – that signals to your kidneys to produce less urine. However, some people don’t produce the appropriate amount of ADH at night, leading to too much urine production. 

Alternatively, even if your body produces enough ADH, your kidneys may not respond to the hormone. This means that your body will still produce too much urine, leading your bladder to be overly full and to leak.

In some cases, bedwetting in adults is genetic. If your one of your parents has previously struggled with wetting the bed, you have a 40% of being [a bedwetter yourself.](https://www.nafc.org/adult-bedwetting/ )

Having an overactive bladder is another common reason for bladder leakage at night. Overactive bladder occurs when the nerves and tissues surrounding the bladder are damaged – either from a previous pelvic surgery, infection, or a neurological condition – causing the bladder to contract involuntarily even when it isn’t full. Because your body produces less urine at night than during the day, the urine you do produce is more concentrated and acidic. Acidic urine will irritate an already sensitive bladder, making it spasm. As a result, you may wet the bed. This means that bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol can worsen the condition.

Why your bladder might leak at night

Overactive Bladder Remedies

OG-Overactive-Bladder-Treatments

Leaving the house when you’re caring for an incontinent loved one can feel like a monumental task. The stress of caring for an incontinent person in a public toilet can feel particularly daunting. With a little planning, however, leaving the house can be made easier. Pack a bag with necessary supplies. Good things to have on you are pads, wipes, incontinence underwear, gloves, and a change of clothes. Consider bringing a laminated sign to post outside public toilets to alert other people and ask for patience and consideration – for instance “wife caring for disabled husband.”

Planning

There are a range of natural remedies to improve your quality of life. Visit our website for tips & tricks on how to take care of your overactive bladder.

7 Natural Remedies for an Overactive Bladder

The most common bladder conditions/symptoms in women include:

- [urinary incontinence](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/what-is-incontinence)
- [overactive bladder](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/what-is-overactive-bladder)
- [urinary tract infections](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/health-and-wellbeing/bladder-infection-symptoms)
- [difficulty emptying the bladder fully](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/overflow-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment/)
- [increased urinary frequency or urgency](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/frequent-urination-in-women)

These problems may occur at any age but are more common [after pregnancy and childbirth](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/pregnancy-and-postpartum), during and after the [menopause](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/menopause-hub), or when [pelvic floor muscles become weaker](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/urinary-incontinence-in-women/overflow-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment). Other factors that may be involved include ageing, obesity, chronic cough, constipation, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes or neurological disorders.

The most common bladder problems in women

OG-Our-3-Favourite-Things-Adult-Incontinence-Pads-Do-for-Us

Urinary incontinence means leaking urine when you do not intend to. It is very common and can affect women of all ages, but it being common does not mean that you have to put up with it!

There are three main types of urinary incontinence:

[Stress incontinence](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/what-is-stress-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment) - occurs when pressure inside the abdomen increases, for example when coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting. It usually happens because the pelvic floor muscles and tissues that support the bladder and urethra have become weaker.  Common risk factors include pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, increasing age, obesity, chronic coughing, and pelvic floor weakness.

[Urge incontinence](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/frequent-urination-in-women) - occurs when a sudden and intense urge to pass urine is followed by leakage before reaching the toilet and is generally due to an overactive bladder.  Here, the bladder muscle contracts too frequently or at the wrong time leading to a sudden urgency to urinate, frequent trips to the toilet during the day, waking at night to pass urine and urge incontinence.

[Mixed incontinence](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/what-is-mixed-incontinence) - many women experience a combination of both stress and urge symptoms.

Urinary incontinence – bladder leaks

 Advice & Support - Back to Advice & Support Page

Kegel Exercises for Bladder Control

OG-Kegel-Exercises-for-Better-Bladder-Control

Adequate pelvic floor exercises in pregnancy help to strengthen muscles that are under great strain during pregnancy and childbirth. Every woman should do pelvic floor exercises in pregnancy, regardless of her age, as this will reduce or avoid [stress urinary incontinence](/en-gb/discreet/incontinence-advice/bladder-problems/what-is-stress-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment). The first thing to start with is kegel exercises pregnancy. Kegels are the most popular exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and are fundamental if you want to strengthen them. Anyone can do them, and they are especially recommended during pregnancy. It is important to involve the pelvic floor muscles when doing them, but also the abdominal muscles.

To start exercising your kegel muscles, start by feeling them. This can be done in any position - lying down, sitting or standing. To squeeze them, make a movement as if you were trying to cut off the flow of urine. If you can't feel them, you need more practice or you may have over-tight or weak muscles.

It is also important to engage the lower abdominal muscles during exercise. This involves pushing your abdomen inwards, as if you were pulling your belly in. Do these exercises quickly at first and then hold the squeezes for as long as you can (you can count to 10). Do 3 series of 8 squeezes each day.

In addition, practise tensing your pelvic floor muscles when you cough and sneeze and remember to stretch gently to relieve muscle tension.

Pelvic floor exercises in pregnancy

Wearing Incontinence Pants

How to improve bladder health? There are many solutions, but whatever treatment or remedy you choose, you need to exercise your bladder and pelvic floor muscles.
<ul>
 <li>Biofeedback - If you’ve tried and have trouble doing pelvic floor exercise routine, you may want to see a physiotherapist who specialises in women’s pelvic health. A physiotherapist may suggest biofeedback. Biofeedback is a training technique that may be useful if you have problems locating the correct muscles. With biofeedback, you're connected to electrical sensors that help you to receive information (feedback) about your body (bio). This feedback helps you to focus on making subtle changes in your body, such as flexing your pelvic muscles, more successfully.</li>
 <li>Try a bladder-friendly diet - Avoid foods like caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, carbonated beverages and spicy foods. All of these can alter the acidity of your urine, making your incontinence symptoms worse. Avoid smoking.</li>
 <li>Stay hydrated - While drinking too much of anything will create an urge to go, a critical tool for dealing with incontinence is to drink plenty of water. Now, this may sound counterintuitive. After all, if you feel like you have to urinate, it might make sense to limit your fluid intake. However, not drinking enough water results in highly concentrated urine, which will irritate your bladder. Make sure that you drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.</li>
 <li>Get moving - Weight management can help to alleviate the symptoms of adult incontinence, as extra pounds put pressure on the bladder’s muscles, which can lead to stress incontinence. Simply going for more walks around the neighbourhood is an easy, straightforward way to get moving.</li>
 <li>Practice breathing techniques - The pelvic floor muscles, as part of the stabilising muscles of the trunk, work closely with the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, so functional improvements can be achieved through conscious breathing techniques, and the extension of the low-pressure expiratory flow leaves room for increased activation of the closure structures. Breathing techniques are helpful in optimising respiratory coordination.</li>
 <li>Seek advice of a specialist women’s health physiotherapist: some women struggle with overly tight pelvic floor just as much as a lax one which can result in urinary dysfunction. Get your pelvic floor checked by a specialist to find appropriate solutions. They might indicate the use of a pelvic toner which can help too.</li>
 </ul>

Other methods for improving bladder control

ADP - How to stop frequent urination at night

How to stop frequent urination at night

It would be an understatement to say that bladder leaks often seem to come at inconvenient moments. But fortunately, adult incontinence pads can do some pretty amazing stuff for those of us who experience bladder leaks from time to time.

Here are a few of our favourite things that pads do to help us get on with our daily lives:

ADP - Our 3 Favourite Things Adult Incontinence Pads Do for Us

Our 3 Favourite Things Adult Incontinence Pads Do for Us

Always Discreet is on a mission to break the silence on bladder leaks with our #WeeNeedToTalk campaign. Learn more about it here!

ADP - Overactive Bladder Treatments

Overactive Bladder Treatments

Abdominal workouts like sit ups, crunches or plank kicks place a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor. Opt for alternative exercises for your sensitive bladder where breathing or the position supports your pelvic floor. Advisable for better bladder health are pelvic floor exercises and targeted Pilates and yoga exercises. They help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which control the hold and release of urine. Reduce leaks and improve your overall health by practising at least three times a day.

Not Too Many Crunches

If you experience sudden urgency to urinate or other bladder-related issues, your first step should be consulting a doctor. They can help rule out all known causes of your symptoms. A crucial part of the diagnostic process is a urine test, which can reveal whether a urinary tract infection—a common cause of overactive bladder — is responsible . You might also consider keeping a bladder diary, where you record how often you urinate, the volume of urine, and any episodes of incontinence. For added comfort during daily activities, you can use specialised Always Discreet incontinence products, which provide discretion and protection from bladder leaks. If necessary, your doctor might recommend urodynamic testing to better assess your bladder's function.

## Urodynamic testing for overactive bladder

Urodynamic tests are specialised procedures designed to evaluate how well your bladder functions. What should you know about these tests?

- __Urine flow measurements –__ This test measures how quickly urine flows out of the bladder. It helps identify potential blockages or weakened muscles.

- __Cystometry –__ During this test, the capacity of your bladder is assessed, determining how much urine it can hold before you feel the urge to urinate. It can also detect abnormal bladder muscle contractions.

- __Electromyography –__ This test analyses the activity of the muscles involved in the urination process.

Urodynamic tests are particularly helpful in diagnosing an overactive bladder, and where there is more complex mixed incontinence, especially when other methods have not provided clear results. They also aid in determining the most effective treatment approach.

Diagnosing bladder spasms in women

Are you having trouble convincing your loved one to try protection against bladder leaks? Or maybe the topic is too hard to even discuss? Not only are bladder leaks embarrassing, they are embarrassing to talk about – especially for many elderly parents to discuss with their own children.

That’s why the urinary incontinence issue may be better approached by a non-family member, like an old friend or a doctor. A peer can empathise with the challenges of ageing and connect on an emotional level to comfort your loved one. He or she may even share advice based on their own personal experiences. Reassure your friend that urinary incontinence, while often not discussed, is quite a common condition. In fact, 1 in 3 women over the age of 35 experience some form of urinary incontinence. A doctor can reassure them by explaining that their situation is normal and that many other patients of a similar age face urinary incontinence, too.

Have Your Loved One Talk to a Doctor or a Peer

Bladder leakage at night can happen whether or not you feel the urge to go. Visit our website to find out how you can remedy the issue!

How to Stop Bedwetting in Adults

It would be an understatement to say that bladder leaks often seem to come at inconvenient moments. But fortunately, adult incontinence pads can do some pretty amazing stuff for those of us who experience bladder leaks from time to time. 

Treatment for bladder spasms varies from person to person. It’s important to remember that the first method may not always yield immediate results. Persistence is key, as many effective solutions are available.

__Bladder training –__ This is often one of the first steps. It involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits. While initially challenging, this method can help the bladder adjust to holding urine longer, reducing sudden urges over time.

__Pelvic floor muscle exercises -__ Known as Kegel exercises, these strengthen the muscles that control urination. They can be performed anywhere, anytime, and their effects can bring significant relief.

Maintaining a healthy weight matters. Excess weight can put additional pressure on the bladder. Even small changes in diet and increased physical activity can bring positive results. If these approaches don’t work, your doctor might recommend additional treatments, such as hormone therapy for postmenopausal women or Botox injections, to relax bladder muscles and reduce involuntary cramps.

## Natural remedies for bladder spasms

Some individuals seek natural ways to ease spasms. Although herbal remedies and acupuncture lack comprehensive scientific validation, some studies suggest that acupuncture can help alleviate overactive bladder symptoms. If you're interested in these options, consult with your doctor first.


Treatment for overactive bladder spasms

Waking up to a wet bed is no way to start your day. Plus, it can be difficult to approach the subject with your partner in the morning that you wet the bed, no matter how supportive they are. It may be time to look into solutions for how to remedy a leaking bladder at night.

- __Don’t be embarrassed__

Adult bedwetting is involuntary and out of your control. It’s not your fault! It is more common however t
han you may think. Plus, it’s solvable.

- __Make a urination routine__

Be sure to empty your bladder at regular intervals throughout the day. This way, your bladder is not over-stressed and fatigued from holding it in during the day.

- __Schedule your fluid intake__

Stop drinking fluids at 6pm, so that you can ensure that your bladder is empty when you are ready to go tosleep.

- __Go before bed__

Emptying your bladder before you get under the covers is key in preventing bladder leakage at night. Make sure to go to the toilet (whether or not you feel the need to) to make sure your bladder is fully empty prior to sleep.

- __Use a bedwetting alarm__

There are several types of bedwetting alarm systems that can alert you when a leak is starting. Most often, they include a fastening that attaches to your underwear that produces vibrations or beeps designed to wake you from sleep should you start urinating. They can be helpful in learning how to prevent a leaking bladder at night..

- __Medication__

Medication can help regulate antidiuretic hormone (or ADH) levels in your body. ADH is responsible for signaling to the kidneys that they need to produce less urine during the night. Ask your doctor if this kind of treatment is right for you as you explore how to stop bedwetting. Medication may also be necessary to treat a urinary tract infection if this is the cause of your bedwetting.

- __Incontinence pads or underwear__

Bladder leak products are perfect for protecting you and your sheets in case you experience a leaking bladder at night. They come in Liners, Pads or Underwear. They are designed to absorb liquid within seconds and lock in odours. Disposable underwear is a great option for protecting against bladder leakage at night. It can absorb up to a full bladder’s worth of urine, so you wake up fresh, dry, and ready to start the day with a smile on your face.

If you wet the bed, talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. Bedwetting can often be a sign of an underlying medical issue that requires attention, such as bladder cancer, kidney disease, a neurological disorder, or even just a simple urinary tract infection. The sooner you know what the source is, the faster you can get treatment, learn how to stop bedwetting, and be on your way to a dry, comfortable and good night’s sleep.

What you can do about bladder leakage at night

A woman holding her lower belly with a pressing need to urinate

Caring for an incontinent person is often quite a physical task, involving lifting, moving, shifting, helping them out of bed, standing them up and sitting them down. All of this becomes challenging when there is a large difference in size between the two people. Age and disability also often affect the ease with which a loved one can be manoeuvred. Consider consulting a physical therapist for tips on how to move a loved one properly without causing injury to yourself.

Know your limitations

What are pelvic floor muscles?

OG-7-Natural-Remedies-for-an-Overactive-Bladder

The bladder is one of those organs we rarely think about until something goes wrong. When bladder symptoms appear, they can quickly affect everyday life, affecting work, exercise, sleep, and social activities.  Bladder problems are particularly common in women as pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes and pelvic floor weakness all influence how the bladder works. Symptoms such as leaking urine, needing to pass urine frequently, or a sudden urgent need to go to the toilet are very common and, importantly, many can be improved with the right advice and treatment.

Understanding what symptoms mean and when to seek medical advice is the first step to regain confidence and control.

Bladder problems – how to recognise and deal with them effectively?

OG-How-to-talk-about-sensitive-bladder

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Smiling middle-aged woman standing near the window

ADP - #WeeNeedToTalk - OG Image

Night Ultra Size 3 With Wings

Always Discreet Maxi Comfort Pads 8 Drop 6 ct

Always Discreet long pads, sensitive bladder, 5 drops, 10 count, without wings, complete protection. Plastic pack front panel in purple, Always logo dark purple.

Always Discreet Incontinence Pads Long 10 ct

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Always Discreet Plus Large incontinence pants packaging

Managing Urinary Incontinence

How to Deal with Incontinence?

How to Stop Urination at Night

How to Stop Bedwetting

How to Talk About Sensitive Bladder?

How to Deal with Bladder Problems

Overactive Bladder Remedies

Overactive Bladder Diet

Overactive Bladder Treatment

Kegel Exercises for Bladder Control

Step by Step Pelvic Floor Exercise

#WeeNeedToTalk

Using Pads for Sensitive Bladder

Wearing Incontinence Pants

What Incontinence Pads Do for Us

Incontinence Care Advice

Bladder spasms - symptoms, causes and treatment