45.5% of women over the age of 40 suffer from enuresis

Despite causing significant inconvenience and affecting the quality of life of men and women, involuntary loss of urine is more common than you might think. According to the Brasil LUTS Study, 45.5% of women over the age of 40 suffer from enuresis, which can be caused by several factors. The same study indicates that of all urinary symptoms, enuresis is the most closely related to dissatisfaction with treatment. With this in mind, World Incontinence Day (March 14) aims to promote open communication between patients and clinicians to break taboos and ensure effective treatment.

Experiencing urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or even moving around can be quite uncomfortable in everyday life and should not be seen as normal, regardless of age. Such cases may indicate stress incontinence, the most common type among women, with 20.4% of cases, notes the Brasil LUTS study. Emergency enuresis, part of the overactive bladder syndrome, is characterized by a sudden urge to urinate and the inability to control it until reaching the bathroom. According to the same study, this type affects 14.9% of women.

“Enuresis is at the top of the list of topics that cause the greatest discomfort among people, especially among women. In this scenario, the success of treatment is directly related to the ability of the physician and the patient to work in synergy: the physician plays the role of assessing and accepting that patient’s demands, prioritizing For continuity and satisfaction of treatment, which leads to aims to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life, while the patient must observe and share the situations that cause the greatest discomfort and frequency of occurrence, ”explains Marcos Freire, urologist and chief medical director of Astellas Farma Brasil.

Although enuresis affects more women, enuresis also affects men’s quality of life, especially after the age of 70. According to the Brazil LUTS study, 14.7% live with enuresis, with the prevalence of urgency-related urine loss accounting for 9.4% of cases.

Obesity and diseases that put pressure on the bladder are some risk factors, as is age. With the aging of the population, it is expected that the requirements of health services regarding the management of enuresis will increase in the future.

“What we must normalize is aging with quality of life, self-esteem and dialogue to discuss solutions to routine inconveniences. We know that it is important to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, that is, to do exercises that focus on the muscle group responsible for supporting the bladder, urethra and uterus. In addition, today there is Several medications have been shown to be effective in cases of urge incontinence, specifically, which can restore the routine without interruption,” concludes Marcus.