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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Problems with urine leakage may require you to take extra care to prevent skin irritation. You may need to use a washcloth to clean and dry yourself. Products such as powders, moisturizers and deodorizing tablets can help you feel clean and eliminate urine odor. You might also consider using a barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly or cocoa butter, to protect your skin from urine. But don't overdo it. Your body has natural defenses against bladder infections. Washing too frequently or douching can defeat those defenses. It's better to aim for keeping your skin clean and dry.

If you have urge incontinence or nighttime incontinence, move any rugs or furniture you might trip over or collide with on the way to the toilet. Use a night light to illuminate your path and reduce your risk of falling.

If you have functional incontinence, a home or bathroom renovation project may help. Possible changes may include adding a bathroom in a more convenient location, widening an existing bathroom doorway, installing an elevated toilet seat or simply adding a few well-placed lights. You may also benefit from a bedpan.

Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Urge urinary incontinence/overactive bladder. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/urge-incontinence. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  2. Non-surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/stress-incontinence/non-surgical-treatment-for-female-stress-urinary-incontinence. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  3. DuBeau CE. Treatment of urinary incontinence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  4. Herbruck LF. Stress urinary incontinence: An overview of diagnosis and treatment options. Urology Nursing. 2008;28:186.
  5. Cartwright R, et al. Current management of overactive bladder. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008;20:489.
  6. Urinary incontinence. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/urinary.htm. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  7. Seeking treatment. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/seeking-treatment. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  8. Interstitial cystitis/Painful bladder syndrome. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  9. How medications affect your bladder. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/urge-incontinence/medications. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  10. Facts and statistics. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/media/media-kit/facts-statistics. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  11. Urinary incontinence: What every man should know. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/what-is-incontinence/what-every-man-should-know. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  12. What I need to know about prostate problems. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostate_ez/#prostatitis. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  13. Urinary incontinence in women. National Association for Continence. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/index.htm#evaluation. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  14. Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystoscopy. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  15. Peterson JA. Minimize urinary incontinence: Maximize physical activity in women. Urology Nursing. 2008;28:351.
  16. Karsenty G, et al. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) intradetrusor injections in adults with neurogenic detrusor overactivity/neurogenic overactive bladder: A systematic literature review. European Association of Urology. 2008;53:275.
  17. Artificial urinary sphincter. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/uploads///pdf/educational%20brochures/OnlineAUS.pdf. Accessed May 17, 2009.
  18. Surgery for urinary incontinence. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp166.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2009.
  19. Surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/stress-incontinence/surgical-treatment-for-female-stress-urinary-incontinence. Accessed May 17, 2009.
  20. Khan F, et al. Surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2009.
  21. Cespedes RD. Is injection therapy for stress urinary incontinence dead? No. Urology. 2009;73:11.
  22. Christofi N, et al. An evidence-based approach to lifestyle interventions in urogynaecology. Menopause International. 2007;13:154.

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June 27, 2009

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