Urinary Incontinence Specialist

What is urinary incontinence?

When you lose control of your bladder or have urinary leakage, you are experiencing incontinence. That's a common problem for women that can be mild or severe.

In some cases, only small amounts of urine may leak when you laugh or sneeze. In other cases, you may have a total loss of bladder control.

There are several types of urinary incontinence. The most common include:

• Urge: a frequent, sudden urge to urinate that makes it difficult to reach the bathroom in time; also called overactive bladder
• Stress: urine leakage from pressure on the abdomen like sneezing, coughing, or running
• Mixed: having both urge and stress urinary incontinence at the same time.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Physical conditions or medical problems can cause urinary incontinence, but it’s not a disease. Women are more prone to having incontinence because of several factors. Some of these include:

• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Hysterectomy
• Aging

Pelvic floor disorders, neurological disorders, obstructions, and specific diseases can also cause urinary incontinence. Additionally, urinary incontinence is sometimes a temporary condition caused by urinary tract infections, medications, certain beverages, and even spicy foods or chocolate.

How is incontinence diagnosed and treated?

Dr. Gorens performs a full physical examination and discusses your personal medical history to determine the cause of your urinary incontinence. Depending on your symptoms, she might also recommend additional imaging and bladder function tests.

Your treatment depends on the severity of your condition. Dr. Gorens might recommend:

• Lifestyle changes, like managing your fluid intake
• Physical therapy to strengthen the pelvic floor
• Bladder training to retrain your bladder muscles
• Medications to control muscle spasms and relax the bladder

Dr. Gorens might also suggest treatment that includes products from InControl® Medical. These FDA-cleared devices are designed to noninvasively correct incontinence by strengthening your pelvic floor and relaxing bladder muscles.

Some types of urinary incontinence are also treatable with surgery.

Can urinary incontinence be prevented?

Your chances of developing urinary incontinence increase based on several factors including your family history, weight, and age. However, healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your risks. Some of these modifications include:

• Healthy weight management
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Eating a fiber-rich diet low in bladder irritants

Don’t let urinary incontinence control your life. Call Marsha E. Gorens, MD, or schedule an appointment online today to learn about the treatment options that are available.