Managing Female Incontinence - Understanding light bladder incontinence at an early age

As people age, and particularly women, the muscles of the pelvic floor can lose their tone and become weakened inviting the onset of light adult incontinence. These muscle sets support the organs in the abdomen including the bladder. When that support is weakened the bladder becomes susceptible to both exterior and interior stress. Simple actions like sneezing, coughing or a hearty "belly" laugh can provide enough pressure to cause a slight involuntary discharge of urine.

Women are particularly vulnerable to this condition especially if they have been through one or more pregnancies and childbirths. The stretching and otherwise damaging of the pelvic floor muscles may result in pressure on the bladder from other organs as they move in the body from lack of support, or the collapse of the bladder itself.

So then what choices are there?

Since adult incontinence is a common problem for women of all ages, there are many products available on the market today that are designed especially for dealing with adult bladder weakness. Unlike sanitary pads, these products are made from more absorbent materials and generally have a waterproof backing to guard against unwanted leakage. They are also designed to keep acidic urine away from delicate skin, which can easily become irritated when exposed to any amount of wetness for an extended period of time. These pads can be worn inside your undergarments in the same way you would wear a menstrual pad, but they offer the same is not more discreetness, comfort and security as their sanitary counterparts.

If, on the other hand, you tend experience a heavier leakage of urine then you probably require heavier protection. One of the most popular forms of protection are undergarments that tend to resemble normal underwear and they are normally available in one of two versions. There are ones that are washable so they can be re-used again, or there is the slightly more expensive version which is disposable. Some may have a pocket in which to fit a disposable insert, such as a pad, while others may come with a built-in pad. Washable undergarments are usually designed to withstand multiple washings by machine or by hand.

While you may be feeling like you are alone in the world, bladder weakness is not something that should your source of embarrassment or shame. Light adult incontinence is actually much more common than you may think, with an estimate of 1 in every 3 women over the age of 30 who are currently dealing with some form of bladder weakness. This problem most commonly occurs as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. As a result the pelvic floor is weaker than it once was, resulting in light adult incontinence. While it is possibly that the issue may be a temporary one which can be resolved with the help of pelvic floor exercises and simple lifestyle changes, there is a chance it could be more serious with surgery or other medical treatments being the only option. Whether your situation is temporary or permanent, you will probably need to use some form a bladder weakness products for a period of time. If this is the case, you should choose a product that has been designed with this problem in mind.

What to look for:

When you are looking for a bladder weakness product, you will want to make sure you keep the following qualities in mind:

•Weight loss if you are overweight •Avoidance of alcohol and caffeine •Quitting smoking •Pelvic floor exercises

While you may have once been embarrassed by your light adult incontinence condition, just remember that you are not alone. Instead of "making do" with products that are designed for your menstrual period, you will need to look for ones that are designed specifically to handle bladder weakness. To feel confident and secure, give one of these products a try. You have nothing to lose and only your life to gain.