Results of various studies have shown that the very common urinary incontinence, which affects over 18 million American women, can have an enormous negative impact on a woman’s quality of life. The sexual life of a woman is one area which may not have been given much prominence, but can be considerably devastated by this condition.

Majority of the women diagnosed with urinary incontinence believed that sexuality is a vital part of their lives, according to results of a study conducted in Sweden. Almost all women felt that their urinary problems have been a barrier not only in fully enjoying their sex lives but also in their relationship with their partners.

Preventing these women to enjoy the moment with their loved ones is the fear of leaking urine rather than the actual leakage during sexual contact although this may occur in some instances. These women may also have the feeling that they are not fresh and that they may have the smell of urine or other offensive odors. The possibility of having to get up in order to go to the bathroom is another concern raised by these women.

These factors, whether real or imagined, may contribute to the woman’s sexual dysfunction in many ways. The loss of sexual desire has been attributed by many women to this condition. Even if the desire may still be there for some women, their fears may make it impossible to achieve sexual arousal. The ability to reach orgasm may become even harder for these women.

Instances in which incontinent women experience pain during sexual intercourse are not isolated. In majority of these cases, the pain may be traced to her emotional condition although there is the possibility that the pain may be directly related to her condition. It may be difficult to achieve sufficient lubrication because of the inability to relax, being embarrassed, and the fear of leakage. This will surely cause pain during penetration and even more during the actual contact.

Even with this difficulty, this does not mean that it is hopeless to have a satisfying and meaningful sexual life for the woman. There are some things an incontinent woman may do to manage this problem. For starters, the husband can be of tremendous help by being understanding and giving the necessary support. The wife may actually have an enjoyable evening with the husband showing patience and helping her relax.

Also benefiting a woman’s sexual life are conservative methods of treating this condition, such as behavioral changes and pelvic floor muscle training. When regularly observed and practiced, these approaches may prove very valuable in the prevention of this pelvic floor condition. Very important in preventing this condition is learning the different risk factors, including those that may be considered reversible urinary incontinence.

References:

shsc.nhs.uk

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

rcog.org.uk