30% of Women Over 50 Experience Urinary Incontinence; Doctor Stresses Importance of Pelvic Floor Muscle Care
Ahead of Mother's Day, Dr. Yu Chien-Jen of Zhenxing Hospital's Obstetrics and Gynecology Department highlights that approximately 30% of women over 50 suffer from urinary incontinence. She emphasizes the importance of women adopting pelvic floor muscle care habits, recommending exercise and outlining various treatment options based on symptom severity.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 14:32
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Central News Agency (CNA) correspondent Tseng Yi-Ning, Taipei, May 1st - With Mother's Day approaching, an obstetrician-gynecologist noted a patient who experienced urinary incontinence after childbirth, to the extent that urine would leak out just by slightly pulling her child's hand. Approximately 30% of women over 50 suffer from urinary incontinence, and women should develop pelvic floor muscle care habits.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen, attending physician at Zhenxing Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, stated in a press release that according to statistics, about 30% of women over 50 experience urinary incontinence, and this figure rises to 40% for women over 60. She reminded children to pay attention to their mothers' "unstoppable" struggles.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen mentioned that a patient named "Xiaomei" (pseudonym) was a typical example. When she first walked into the clinic, she was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. After childbirth, she developed symptoms of urinary incontinence, which worsened as her child grew. During family outings, she didn't even dare to hold her son's hand as he ran and jumped, because just a slight pull would cause urine to leak involuntarily. This led to her mother-in-law misunderstanding her as lazy and uncaring towards her child, and even her husband did not understand her.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen explained that Xiaomei's "stress urinary incontinence" accounts for about 60% of women's urinary incontinence problems. When patients cough, laugh, run, or lift heavy objects, any abdominal exertion causes urine to leak uncontrollably. The amount of leakage varies from person to person. Many patients use panty liners constantly to cover odors or avoid embarrassment, and some even fear social activities and refuse long-distance travel because of it. Frequent leakage during a cold or cough can cause catastrophic psychological pressure.
Regarding treatment, Dr. Yu Chien-Jen stated that the treatment for stress urinary incontinence is differentiated by the severity of the disease. Patients with milder symptoms can primarily consider oral medication or receive vaginal laser therapy to help tighten and contract the vaginal epithelium. If the leakage has reached a moderate to severe level, options include "submucosal urethral bulking injection surgery" or "urethral sling minimally invasive surgery" to strengthen urethral support and reduce leakage.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen reminded that post-operative home care is extremely important. After undergoing urethral sling minimally invasive surgery, patients must relax naturally during urination and avoid continuous abdominal exertion, which can cause excessive urethral pressure and lead to difficulty urinating.
In addition to stress type, there are several other common types of urinary incontinence clinically. Dr. Yu Chien-Jen explained that patients with "urge urinary incontinence" often experience a strong sense of urgency, and urine often leaks before they even reach the toilet, severely impacting their quality of life. Second is "overflow urinary incontinence," which is often due to a weak bladder or urethral obstruction, leading to excessive urine accumulation in the bladder and natural leakage. This is common as a sequela of pelvic surgery.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen pointed out that the last type is a combination of "stress type" leakage and "urge type" leakage. For this, she recommends medication to control overactive detrusor muscles, combined with submucosal urethral bulking surgery and urethral sling surgery.
Regardless of whether surgery is undertaken, Dr. Yu Chien-Jen emphasized that maintaining pelvic floor muscle function is an essential lesson for every woman. She suggests that women should develop the habit of daily "Kegel exercises," strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through conscious contraction and relaxation. Additionally, developing good bowel habits and preventing constipation can effectively reduce the burden on the pelvic floor. (Editor: Kuan Chung-Wei) 1150501
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Dr. Yu Chien-Jen, attending physician at Zhenxing Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, stated in a press release that according to statistics, about 30% of women over 50 experience urinary incontinence, and this figure rises to 40% for women over 60. She reminded children to pay attention to their mothers' "unstoppable" struggles.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen mentioned that a patient named "Xiaomei" (pseudonym) was a typical example. When she first walked into the clinic, she was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. After childbirth, she developed symptoms of urinary incontinence, which worsened as her child grew. During family outings, she didn't even dare to hold her son's hand as he ran and jumped, because just a slight pull would cause urine to leak involuntarily. This led to her mother-in-law misunderstanding her as lazy and uncaring towards her child, and even her husband did not understand her.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen explained that Xiaomei's "stress urinary incontinence" accounts for about 60% of women's urinary incontinence problems. When patients cough, laugh, run, or lift heavy objects, any abdominal exertion causes urine to leak uncontrollably. The amount of leakage varies from person to person. Many patients use panty liners constantly to cover odors or avoid embarrassment, and some even fear social activities and refuse long-distance travel because of it. Frequent leakage during a cold or cough can cause catastrophic psychological pressure.
Regarding treatment, Dr. Yu Chien-Jen stated that the treatment for stress urinary incontinence is differentiated by the severity of the disease. Patients with milder symptoms can primarily consider oral medication or receive vaginal laser therapy to help tighten and contract the vaginal epithelium. If the leakage has reached a moderate to severe level, options include "submucosal urethral bulking injection surgery" or "urethral sling minimally invasive surgery" to strengthen urethral support and reduce leakage.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen reminded that post-operative home care is extremely important. After undergoing urethral sling minimally invasive surgery, patients must relax naturally during urination and avoid continuous abdominal exertion, which can cause excessive urethral pressure and lead to difficulty urinating.
In addition to stress type, there are several other common types of urinary incontinence clinically. Dr. Yu Chien-Jen explained that patients with "urge urinary incontinence" often experience a strong sense of urgency, and urine often leaks before they even reach the toilet, severely impacting their quality of life. Second is "overflow urinary incontinence," which is often due to a weak bladder or urethral obstruction, leading to excessive urine accumulation in the bladder and natural leakage. This is common as a sequela of pelvic surgery.
Dr. Yu Chien-Jen pointed out that the last type is a combination of "stress type" leakage and "urge type" leakage. For this, she recommends medication to control overactive detrusor muscles, combined with submucosal urethral bulking surgery and urethral sling surgery.
Regardless of whether surgery is undertaken, Dr. Yu Chien-Jen emphasized that maintaining pelvic floor muscle function is an essential lesson for every woman. She suggests that women should develop the habit of daily "Kegel exercises," strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through conscious contraction and relaxation. Additionally, developing good bowel habits and preventing constipation can effectively reduce the burden on the pelvic floor. (Editor: Kuan Chung-Wei) 1150501
Stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.