Can a Hysterectomy Cause Incontinence? Here’s All You Need to Know

A HYSTERECTOMY MAY AFFECT YOUR BLADDER. HERE’S HOW TO NATURALLY MANAGE THAT.

A hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in women, which is performed on an estimated 600,000 American women each year.

Your doctor may have recommended this procedure for several reasons, such as chronic menstrual pain or endometriosis, but they are most often done to treat uterine fibroids. Hysterectomies are more common in women aged 40-50.

Any surgery has risks and complications, and you may be concerned about how a hysterectomy may affect your bladder control.

This article will explore the link between a hysterectomy and incontinence. We’ll also examine how a hysterectomy affects your bladder control and how you can manage urinary symptoms without medication.

Can a Hysterectomy Cause Incontinence?

Yes, having a hysterectomy can increase your chances of developing incontinence by as much as 60%. Studies have shown that incontinence is one of the long-term complications of this procedure [1].

Because of this, you may experience various urinary symptoms after a hysterectomy, including the following [2]:-

Needing to pee more often than usual
Increased urgency to urinate
Peeing a lot at night (nocturia)
A sensation that your bladder isn’t empty even after peeing
A sudden and uncontrollable urge to pee
Leaking urine before you can make it to the bathroom
Leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh

A hysterectomy most often leads to stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence: An activity, such as coughing, laughing, or heavy lifting, puts extra pressure on your bladder, causing you to leak urine.
Urge incontinence: A strong and sudden need to pee, which can be hard to control.

Incontinence doesn’t happen right away. Research shows incontinence after a hysterectomy usually takes years to develop. In fact, the risk is thought to be the highest up to five years after your surgery [2, 5].

Because incontinence after a hysterectomy doesn’t show up right away, taking early action to prevent and reduce your risk is key to maintaining bladder health.

How Does a Hysterectomy Cause Bladder Problems?

There are several reasons why a hysterectomy may lead to urinary incontinence, as explained by Dr. Tori Hudson, ND.

Firstly, this procedure may damage your pelvic floor muscles [3]. These muscles support your bladder and give you control over the release of urine. Therefore, any injury to the pelvic floor muscles may reduce bladder control and lead to leakage.

Other than that, a hysterectomy may also affect the nerves in your bladder. These nerves carry messages between your bladder muscles and your brain and send signals that tell your bladder muscles to contract or relax. Since a hysterectomy may damage these nerves, you may find it harder to hold your pee after the surgery [3].

Finally, a hysterectomy can change the level of female hormones in your body. During this procedure, your surgeon may remove your ovaries, causing the levels of an important hormone called estrogen to drop. A lack of estrogen can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and change the structure of your urinary tract [4].

Due to these changes, you may have to visit the bathroom more often.

How Different Kinds of Hysterectomy Affect the Bladder

A hysterectomy can be performed through the vagina (vaginal hysterectomy) or abdomen (abdominal hysterectomy). A third type is done through minor incisions with the help of a thin instrument with a camera. This is called a laparoscopic hysterectomy.

According to research, all three hysterectomies can lead to urinary incontinence. But vaginal hysterectomy poses the highest risk [5].

There is mixed evidence on whether a total (the whole uterus is removed) or partial hysterectomy (only part of the uterus is removed) is more likely to cause urinary incontinence [1, 2].

If you already experience incontinence, Dr. Tori Hudson suggests discussing with your surgeon which form of hysterectomy best minimizes your risk of urinary problems.

How Is Incontinence Due to Aging Different from Incontinence After a Hysterectomy?

Incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging, but there are several reasons why aging can increase your risk of experiencing it.

Your bladder muscles grow weaker, and your pelvic floor muscles lose strength over time [5]. Plus, certain conditions are more common in older adults, including diabetes and stroke. These conditions may affect the bladder’s nerves, causing incontinence [6].

Over 50% of women who have reached menopause also experience urinary incontinence. Research suggests that your hormones may be one possible cause [7].

When you reach menopause, your ovaries naturally stop producing estrogen. Due to the lack of estrogen, your pelvic floor muscles might weaken, and the structure and function of your urethra may change [4].

Essentially, both aging and hysterectomy can affect your estrogen levels, pelvic floor muscles, and bladder nerves, leading to incontinence.

Some research also shows that women above 60 are much more likely to experience incontinence after a hysterectomy than those under 60—probably due to the added effects of an aging bladder [1].

How to Prevent Incontinence After a Hysterectomy

Prevention is a little tricky in this case. Essentially, the most foolproof way to prevent incontinence after a hysterectomy is to avoid it altogether. But this may not be practical (or recommended) for you.

If you’re concerned about any long-term complications of a hysterectomy, you can discuss your options and the risks versus benefits of the procedure with your healthcare provider. Remember that not all the effects of a hysterectomy are bad.

Some research has also shown that acupuncture may help restore and fix the nerves damaged in a hysterectomy and prevent incontinence [3]. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.

5 Natural Ways to Manage Incontinence After a Hysterectomy

Because your risk is the highest up to five years after the procedure, it is crucial to enhance your bladder strength as early as possible.

Here are several ways to deal with incontinence after a hysterectomy.

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises, also known as “Kegel exercises,” help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, enabling you to regain your bladder control and hold your urine better. Consistently performing these exercises can also reduce your symptoms and prevent new bladder problems from developing [8].

You can ask your healthcare provider to guide you through these exercises. Or, if you’re interested, feel free to check out our guide on how to perform pelvic floor exercises.

Retraining your bladder

Bladder training can reduce how frequently you need to use the washroom. It is a simple way to enhance your bladder control, and all you have to do is slowly increase how long you wait before using the bathroom.

For instance, you can start by holding your urine for five minutes the next time you need to pee. Once you can do this, you can increase that time to 8 or 10 minutes, and so on. By doing so, you’ll gradually be able to hold your pee for longer.

Changing your diet

What you eat—and drink—can also affect your symptoms. You can proactively enhance your bladder control through simple dietary changes. For instance, including more fiber and whole grains in your diet may prevent constipation. Since constipation puts extra pressure on your bladder and increases bladder activity, preventing it helps minimize bladder problems.

Also, try to go for plain water instead of carbonated drinks like Coke or sparkling water. Research has shown that drinking carbonated drinks too often can contribute to bladder problems and incontinence [9].

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a research-backed method of treating incontinence after a hysterectomy.

Studies suggest that acupuncture may help restore nerves damaged during the surgery, enhance the function of your bladder muscles, strengthen pelvic floor muscles, and reduce involuntary leakages [3].

Taking bladder supplements

Bladder supplements may help improve your bladder control and enhance your quality of life. But remember that it’s best to purchase such supplements from an established brand and company.

The BetterWOMAN bladder control supplement has helped thousands of women regain bladder control for over 25 years. It helps to balance hormones and improve blood circulation, strengthening the pelvic floor. This natural supplement is clinically tested for efficacy and is manufactured in the US under cGMP standards.

Final Thoughts: Treating Incontinence After a Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy can increase your risk of experiencing bladder issues such as urge incontinence and stress incontinence. However, these can be managed with natural methods, such as pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, and bladder control supplements.

BetterWOMAN is a clinically-tested herbal supplement. Consumers have noted various benefits, from reduced urinary leakages to better bladder control.

Your bladder shouldn’t define your quality of life; you can make that change.