Bladder weakness is when urine leaks unintentionally. It is a common problem.
There are two common types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence is when you leak urine during an activity that causes pressure (or ‘stress’) on the bladder. This can happen when you laugh, lift, cough or sneeze.
Urge incontinence is when you leak urine before you can get to the bathroom. You may also have frequent urges to urinate and wake up at night to urinate.
What causes bladder weakness?
When you eat and drink, your body absorbs liquid. The kidneys filter out waste products and produce urine which travels down into the urinary bladder.
Urine travels out of your bladder through a tube called the urethra. You release urine by relaxing the urethral sphincter and contracting the bladder muscles. The urethral sphincter is a group of muscles that tightens to hold urine in and loosens to let it out.
If those muscles are weak, there may be an involuntary release of urine. If this happens too often, urinary incontinence can occur.
Bladder weakness can be caused by pregnancy and childbirth, following surgery, and can be related to menopause or prostate problems. It can also be a side-effect of some medications, being overweight, or constipation.
Is bladder weakness unusual or rare?
No. In fact, two million Australian’s suffer from it. It can happen at any age, to both men and women – although it is more common in females.
Will sanitary pads work?
Over the years, before specially designed products such as MoliMed and MoliCare were introduced, sufferers tried all sorts of solutions.
Sanitary pads, tissues – and even socks – have been tried.
However, urine is much lighter, and comes out in larger amounts, compared to other fluids such as menstrual liquid. The absorption abilities of sanitary pads is not designed for urine, and their use is not recommended.
If I drink less, will it help?
Drinking less will not help. In fact, it could make matters worse.
If you drink less, the liquid in your bladder can become more concentrated, irritating it and making you want to urinate more often.
The common rule of thumb is to drink 2 litres of fluid a day.
What’s ‘normal’ for emptying the bladder?
Of course, everyone is different. But, as a guide only, it would be considered ‘normal’ to empty the bladder 4 to 6 times a day.
Is bladder weakness something that only affects older people?
No. Bladder weakness can happen to people of all ages. It is perfectly common, and nothing to be embarrassed about – no matter how young or old you are.
How can I treat my weak bladder?
Whilst surgery is an option for some, for most people the use of simple pelvic floor exercises and incontinence products, such as MoliMed and MoliCare, allow them to lead a normal active life.
I’ve heard about muscle-training exercises. Do they help?
For mild cases of bladder weakness, muscle-training exercises, such as Pelvic Floor Exercises, can help in a matter of weeks.
The pelvic floor muscles are under voluntary control, so you can exercise them to build up their strength and bulk. These muscles keep the bladder and bladder neck lifted and help them stay in right position. When pelvic floor muscles weaken, pelvic organs drop down contributing towards stress urinary incontinence.
To do Pelvic Floor exercises, you should sit on the toilet and start to urinate. During urination try to stop the flow of urine midstream by contracting (tightening) your pelvic floor muscles. These are the same muscles used to stop a bowel movement.
Repeat the exercise five times a day, each time in sets of ten contractions holding each contraction for a count of four. You do not have to be in any certain position to do these exercises. You can do them during your daily activities. In a week or two you should begin to notice improvement. They must be performed daily for at least 2-3 months to be effective.
What’s the best Moli product for me?
Moli products are available for light, medium and heavy bladder weakness.
Read the packaging on the Moli range at your local pharmacy, or ask your pharmacist for advice.
Where can I get MoliMed and MoliCare products?
MoliMed and MoliCare products are only available through pharmacies. There’s sure to be one near you.
My symptoms are different to those described
This website is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to the different types of bladder problems. You should consult with your healthcare professional, such as a GP, if you are not sure.
Any other useful tips?
Talk about it to your friends with similar problems and share ideas.
Seek a referral to a continence advisor or physician who is knowledgeable about urinary incontinence.
Write down your questions on a paper before you visit a doctor's office. Take the available literature with you, this will help you in discussion with your health care provider.
Find and know the location of bathroom as soon as you arrive in a public place or in an office.
In public transport try to get a seat with easy access to exit or a bathroom.
Do not give up and do not let your bladder dictate your life style.
Be motivated and persistent in seeking right help.
