Endometriosis is a condition that occurs in 10% of women of childbearing age, but the implications of the condition are not restricted to gynecologic symptoms.
However, most individuals associate endometriosis with chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and difficulty getting pregnant; one problem remains relatively obscure – incontinence.
So, to understand how endometriosis and incontinence are connected, the main signs to consider, and how to manage light to moderate incontinence symptoms, let us dive deeper into this article.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where the cells that form the lining of the uterus (endometrium) develop outside the uterus. This tissue can grow on the ovaries, the fallopian tube, the outer layer of the uterus, or other organs, including the bladder and the intestines.
These tissues function like the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle, which means that they degrade and cause bleeding.
However, while menstrual blood has to leave the uterus and the body, a tissue that has been displaced has no way out, thus leading to inflammation, scarring, and cyst formation.
Common Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis has some features that are similar to the menstrual cycle. The common signs include:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Painful bowel movements or urination
- Heavy or irregular periods
- Infertility
- Fatigue and gastrointestinal complaints
For most women, these symptoms are not just perceived as merely inconveniencing occurrences; they can also affect physical, social, and mental health.
Understanding Incontinence
Urinary incontinence refers to the accidental passing of urine. Even though this condition is often linked with aging or pregnancy, most young women, including the ones with endometriosis, are affected. There are three main types of urinary incontinence.
- Stress Incontinence: Urine leakage resulting from pressure on the bladder caused by things such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or even exercising.
- Urge Incontinence: A condition where one gets an urge to urinate, and he or she gets overpowered by it and ends up passing urine. This is commonly termed an overactive bladder.
- Mixed Incontinence: It is a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Some women may have fecal or bowel incontinence, which is the inability to regulate bowel motions that result in unintentional stool leaks, in addition to urine incontinence.
How Are Endometriosis and Incontinence Connected?
Endometriosis and incontinence have a hand-in-hand significance in females. It can affect the pelvic organs, including the bladder and bowel, contributing to incontinence in various ways.
Endometrial tissue on the Bladder and Urethra
The presence of endometrial tissue either on the bladder or in the immediate area of the urethra results in inflammation and irritation of the bladder, causing dysfunction.
This is mainly seen in women, where they may have urges, frequency and pain each time they urinate.
It has been reported that in some circumstances, endometriosis may lead to bladder endometriosis, where the endometrial-like tissue may invade the bladder wall or exist on the surface of the bladder.
Concerning the kinds of incontinence, affected patients are likely to suffer from urge incontinence because of irritation of the bladder muscle by the endometrial implants.
Nerve Involvement
Nerves also get affected by endometriosis, which is why they are referred to as nerve-affected or damaged nerves. Some of the important organs or structures that are controlled by the pelvic floor muscles and nerves are bladders and bowels.
When these nerves are compressed by endometrial tissue, they become unable to control the muscles of the bladder, which may lead to incontinence.
This can often be due to nerve involvement and or lead to situations such as the pelvic floor muscles either being too tight or too weak, leading to urinary and or fecal incontinence.
Chronic Inflammation
Endometriosis can extend inflammation to surrounding organs. Pelvic inflammatory disease infection long-term inflammation of the pelvic organs can cause adhesions among the organs like the bladder and the bowel.
These adhesions may hamper normal mobility of the bladder or bowel, thus leading to incontinence.
Inflammation also intensifies pain, thus making a person more sensitive to sharp pains in the bladder and hence increasing the frequency of urinating.
Impact of Hormonal Treatments
Gestrinone, danazol or contraceptive pills, which contain estrogen and progesterone, are the most common drugs used in the management of endometriosis since they help to regulate hormonal balance and affect the growth of endometrial implants.
However, bowel and bladder function may also be affected by these therapies.
For instance, several hormone medicines may exacerbate the symptoms of incontinence by causing or worsening the urgency or frequency of urination.
How Endometriosis Complicates Incontinence
Diagnosing and treating endometriosis and incontinence together might be difficult. Both disorders have the potential to produce severe bodily and mental anguish, making daily tasks challenging.
Fear of discomfort or leaking may cause women to avoid social situations, strenuous activities, or even leaving the house. This can result in sadness, anxiety, and a low quality of life.
Many times, women who have endometriosis may not immediately identify the connection between their endometriosis and their incontinence symptoms.
This is due in part to the fact that incontinence is frequently viewed as a distinct illness and that women may be ashamed or embarrassed to talk about these symptoms with medical professionals.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Incontinence in Endometriosis Patients
It takes a comprehensive medical assessment to diagnose incontinence in women with endometriosis. Medical professionals usually start by reviewing the patient's symptoms, medical history, and any prior endometriosis diagnosis or treatments.
To check for any indications of pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder pain, or anomalies in the pelvic organs, a physical examination may be performed, which may include a pelvic exam.
Another test might consist of.
- Urodynamic Testing: Urodynamic testing measures the bladder's capacity to hold and release urine.
- Cystoscopy: This technique enables the physician to examine the bladder for any anomalies.
- MRI or ultrasound: Endometrial lesions affecting the bladder, bowel, or pelvic nerves can be detected by imaging.
Once diagnosed, treating incontinence in women with endometriosis involves a multi-faceted approach that addresses both the endometriosis and the incontinence symptoms. Treatment options include.
1. Incontinence Pads
Finding the best incontinence pads for women is essential for managing incontinence to maintain their comfort and self-esteem. The best disposable pads are designed to be as absorbent, moisture-wicking, and odor-controlling as possible. You can also look for various products for managing incontinence, similar to pull ups for adults.
2. Yoga
Yoga for managing incontinence can be done by lowering stress, which can exacerbate bladder symptoms, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, and improving body awareness. Certain yoga positions, such as Child's Pose (Balasana), Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana), and Squats (Malasana), can support and activate the pelvic muscles, which helps improve bladder control.
3. Lifestyle Changes
Changing one's lifestyle can help control the symptoms of incontinence. Women are frequently urged to.
- To extend the intervals between urinations, participate in a bladder retraining program.
- To prevent constipation and control bowel motions, eat a nutritious, high-fiber diet.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine since such beverages might irritate the bladder.
Bottomline
Although frequently disregarded, the hidden struggle that women with endometriosis and incontinence endure has a profound effect.
However, many women can find relief from their symptoms by combining physical therapy, medicinal therapies, and lifestyle modifications.
Healthcare professionals must understand the link between endometriosis and incontinence and treat both illnesses concurrently. Women may get all-encompassing treatment in this way, which enhances their quality of life and aids them in overcoming these silent but important struggles.
