Urinary Incontinence Specialist

What is urinary incontinence?

Did you know that as many as one-quarter of all American men and women experience urinary incontinence, or the inability to fully control the bladder? Women are more likely than men to have problems with bladder control, and the aging process increases your risk of encountering the condition. 

There are several types of urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence

This occurs when urine leaks during activities that place stress on your bladder. You might experience leaking when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or even lift something heavy. 

Urge incontinence

This type of incontinence is marked by a strong and sudden urge to urinate, followed by involuntary urine leakage. You might also notice an increase in the number of bathroom trips you need in a day or the need to wake up to urinate during the night. 

Overflow incontinence

This occurs when your bladder is not able to fully empty during urination. You might notice leaking or dribbling between bathroom visits. 

Functional incontinence

This form of incontinence is linked to another issue, like being unable to get to the bathroom in time because of arthritis. 

It’s also possible to have mixed incontinence if you experience more than one type of urinary incontinence. 

What causes urinary incontinence?

Many things can cause urinary incontinence in women. Some of the factors that increase your risk include:

• Pregnancy and childbirth, especially multiple pregnancies
• Consuming alcohol and certain foods like artificial sweeteners, chocolate, or chili peppers
• Certain medications for blood pressure or heart conditions
• Large doses of vitamin C
• Urinary tract infection
• Menopause
• Neurological disorders
• Urinary obstruction

As you can see, many things can lead to problems with urinary function. It’s important to schedule a diagnostic exam if you notice issues with bladder control.

What can be done to treat urinary incontinence?

Once your gynecologist determines the cause of your incontinence the next step is crafting a customized treatment plan. Some women benefit from bladder training, a technique in which you delay urination to help lengthen the time between bathroom trips. 

Double voiding is also an option for some forms of incontinence. This approach simply means waiting a short period of time after urination before trying again and gives your bladder the chance to fully empty. 

Medications can play a role in treating your incontinence. There are many options, including anticoagulants, muscle relaxers, alpha-blockers, and topical estrogen. 

Insertable medical devices can help prevent urine leakage. Some are worn only during activities, while others are worn throughout the day. 

Surgery can be the best option for some women. The Altis® sling can help support your urethra and is a good option for stress incontinence. Prolapse surgery can help if pelvic organ prolapse is causing urine leakage. 

There are numerous ways to treat urinary incontinence and a solution for virtually every set of needs. If you’re ready to learn more, call the office today to set up a visit, or try the easy online booking feature.