Urinary incontinence, or inadvertent urine leakage, can occur in women across a wide age range. Most commonly, women experience leakage during times in which weakened pelvic muscles are most expected, such as post-childbirth or during menopause. For some, the condition can arrive with seemingly no cause.
Urinary incontinence is responsible for a lower quality of life, as women will adjust their routines around their leakage issues – changing schedules, skipping responsibilities, bringing spare clothing, etc. This stress and pressure can add up, and there is no reason why you should continue to live with incontinence, especially since effective treatment is available.
There are four types of urinary incontinence. Which type best fits your symptoms?
- Stress incontinence – urine will leak when you sneeze, cough, lift something heavy or laugh
- Overflow incontinence – urine leaks consistently
- Urge incontinence – you experience the need to urinate suddenly and cannot hold the urine, so it leaks
- Functional incontinence – something either physical or mental is preventing you from being able to urinate normally
- Mixed incontinence – you experience more than one of the above types of urine leakage
What can PGOMG do to treat urine leakage?
Discussing incontinence issues with a doctor may not be at the top of your to-do list, but neither is suffering with unpleasant symptoms when treatment is possible. You should request an appointment with your provider as soon as incontinence impacts your quality of life. Additionally, there is a concern that your incontinence could be symptomatic of an underlying condition that should be diagnosed.
Treatment options for urine leakage:
- Urethral Bulking
- InterStim
- Botox
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Bladder & Bowel Retraining
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Medication
- Pelvic Floor Therapy
- Tibial Nerve Stimulation
- Biofeedback Therapy
- Electrical Stimulation
- Anorectal Manometry
- EMG Study Anal/Urethral
- Pelvic Relaxation
Incontinence issues can make someone feel alone, but the truth is that millions of American women (and men!) experience bladder and bowel issues. Many will go months or years without seeking medical care, but there is no reason to delay reaching out to your provider. Treatment for incontinence comes in many forms, including non-invasive treatments and simple lifestyle changes. It is up to your doctor to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan.
