Incontinence breakthrough brings relief to millions of women

Researches have discovered common drugs used to treat blood pressure could be the secret to curing incontinence in millions of women around the world.

A study from the UK is being hailed as a medical breakthrough after finding a link between urinary incontinence and the gene that affects the bladder’s ability to contract.

Researchers have discovered endothelin gene is closely linked to the bladder’s ability to contract at the right time.

When the bladder fails to contract, urine is uncontrollably released.

However, the endothelin pathway is affected by medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and it is believed these drugs could help reduce the occurrence of incontinence in women.

The endothelin gene is linked to our vascular cells, as well as the bladder’s ability to contract, which is why drugs for hypertension are effective.

With 50 per cent of adult women experiencing bladder leakage at some point, the findings are welcome news.

Dr Rufus Cartwright, from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College, says the results are an important step towards a cure.

“25 per cent of adult women will experience incontinence severe enough to impact on their quality of life,” says Dr Cartwright.

“Finding a genetic cause and a potential treatment route is therefore a priority.”

Despite the fact so many women are affected by this issue, it’s not something many want to talk openly about.

“Previous studies had failed to confirm any genetic causes for incontinence,” Dr Cartwright says.

“Although I was always hopeful that we would find something significant, there were major challenges involved in finding enough women to participate, and then collecting the information about incontinence.

“It has taken more than five years of work, and has only been possible thanks to the existence of high quality cohort studies with participants who were keen to help.”

Currently, the most common treatments for incontinence include, pelvic floor and bladder training, weight loss, drugs to reduce bladder contraction, and surgery.

The condition often occurs in women after childbirth, with Dr Cartwright saying there is hope for genetic screening in future to help inform women about their risk of post-natal incontinence.

“We know that a caesarean section offers substantial protection from incontinence,” he says.

However, many countries are moving away from caesareans and encouraging more natural births.

“Clearly this will need further debate and an analysis, not just of the cost to healthcare systems, but also of the benefit to women who may be spared the distress of urinary incontinence,” he says.

Women are encouraged to discuss the issue further with their GP. 

Have you experienced incontinence? How do you manage it?