Glossary

Biofeedback: Device that keeps a person aware of the control they are exercising on their pelvic floor muscles.
Cystic training (bladder retraining): Determining precise times to urinate, whether or not you feel the need (such as every half hour or two hours), and progressively increasing the interval time by 30-minute blocks until you are urinating every three or four hours. For the treatment of urge incontinence or overactive bladder. Kegel exercices: Created about sixty years ago by Dr. Kegel, these exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Detrusor: The major muscle in the bladder.
Dysuria: Painful or difficult miction.
Electrotherapy (electrical stimulation): Often combined with biofeedback. Electrical current that causes pelvic floor muscles to contract involuntarily to help the person become aware of them.
Miction: Emptying of the bladder.
Mictional urgency: Frequent and sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate without being able to hold miction for an appropriate moment.
Nocturia: Emission of urine during the night.
Urethral obturator: A sort of plug or tampon inserted into the urethra to prevent urine leakage.
Pelvic floor (or perineum): Group of muscles, nerves and ligaments that control the closing of the bladder, the vagina and the intestines and that holds organs in place. The pelvic floor muscles are usually contracted. When they are relaxed, they make it possible to urinate, defecate and have sexual relations.
Peristalsis: Muscle contraction sequence that pushes food through the digestive system.
Pessary: Device that helps correct a bladder descent or uterine descent.
Polypharmacy: Administration of numerous medications to the same person.
Sling: Bands placed under the urethra that serves as a sort of “hammock” for the bladder to prevent effort-related leakage.
Urodynamics: Series of examinations to fully analyze the bladder’s function.
Voluntary miction: Voluntary decision to urinate

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Urinary Incontinence

Glossary

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