Is There a Connection Between COVID-19 and Urinary Incontinence?
A link exists between the two, but more research is needed to figure out why and how to treat urinary incontinence related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 tends to affect the respiratory system. But research has found that it can affect other parts of the body, including the urinary system.
People who already have urinary conditions may notice their symptoms worsening with or after COVID-19 infection.
Similarly, COVID-19 may contribute to urinary symptoms in those who didn’t have them before.
Several studies have found a potential link between COVID-19 infection and lower urinary tract symptoms, suggesting that these symptoms should be regarded as a symptom of COVID-19.
One 2020 study found that the most common urinary symptoms associated with COVID-19 were urinating 13 or more times in a 24-hour period and urinating four or more times at night.
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And the more severe the COVID-19 infection, the more severe the urinary symptoms may be.
The reason for this is still unclear. The inflammation that comes from viral infections could be to blame as inflammation can damage the bladder’s inner lining. It’s also possible that severe COVID-19 can lead to kidney damage, affecting how they work.
Interestingly, needing to urgently urinate or urinate more often has been noted as a potential side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, too. People also mentioned urinary incontinence.
But most of these studies didn’t assess a person’s usual urinary habits before vaccination, meaning it’s difficult to say what effect the vaccination had, if any.
Another study did find that people with an overactive bladder may have worse urinary symptoms after being vaccinated.
Although such side effects are considered rare, they may be due to the body’s natural immune response to the vaccine.
Lots of other things can cause or contribute to urinary incontinence, including:
- infections of the urinary system
- certain medications like diuretics and hormone replacement therapy
- damage to pelvic floor muscles, such as from childbirth
- increased pressure on the stomach due to pregnancy or obesity
- surgeries like hysterectomy, which can damage the bladder area
- excess consumption of caffeine or alcohol
- constipation
It’s not just COVID-19 infection that may have recently affected the number of people with urinary incontinence — the lifestyle changes that came with the pandemic could come into play, too.
For example, people may have exercised less or simply moved around less due to lockdowns — a known risk factor for urinary incontinence, particularly for older women.
Mental health conditions may have increased , and depression has been linked to urinary symptoms.
Plus, a 2021 study found that women in Italy had worse overactive bladder symptoms a month after physical distancing started. Stress may be a factor here.
How do you know if you have urinary incontinence?
If you have urinary incontinence, you’ll experience a loss of bladder control. The following symptoms are common:
- urinating when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or exercise
- urinating during the night
- needing to urinate more often than usual
- feeling like you suddenly need to urinate
- dribbling urine throughout the day
