URINARY INCONTINENCE

Urinary Incontinence is not being able to control when you urinate. People often call this “having an accident” or “wetting yourself.” Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging, as many people believe. Over 25 million adults in the United States suffer from urinary incontinence. It affects both men and women. The prevalence increases with age.

The good news is, urinary incontinence is a condition that can be often improved with treatment. Many people are so embarrassed about having urinary incontinence that they won’t talk to their doctor. But, urinary incontinence can be treated if caregivers know about your problems.

There are different types of Urinary Incontinence:

• STRESS INCONTINENCE (SUI): involuntary loss of urine during physical activity such as cough, sneeze, lifting, exercise, daily activity. About 50% of women occasionally experience SUI.
• URGE INCONTINENCE (UUI): also called Overactive Bladder (OAB), urge urinary incontinence is when the bladder can spasm, causing the sudden desire to urinate and/or subsequent involuntary urine leakage.
• MIXED INCONTINENCE: combination of STRESS and URGE incontinence
• OVERFLOW / ENURESIS: when you don’t feel the urge to urinate, and the bladder becomes overfilled, causing an involuntary loss of urine. For example- wetting the bed while sleeping. You may also not completely empty your bladder, causing urine to back-up and overflow.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are common causes of female urinary incontinence?

• • Blocked urethra – from prolapse of the vaginal walls (often described as a bulge from the vagina creating vaginal pressure). The urethra may also be blocked from having previous vaginal or incontinence surgery.
  • Hormonal imbalances in women. (Atrophic Vaginitis)
  • Being immobile (not being able to move around).
  • Overactive bladder muscles.
  • Some medicines.
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • Vaginal infection.
  • Weakness of the bladder or the muscles that hold it in place.
  • Weakness of the muscles that keep the urethra closed.

What are possible treatments to manage or improve urinary incontinence issues?

• • Pelvic floor rehabilitation
  • Weight loss and/or dietary changes
  • Overactive bladder medications
  • Botox injections
  • Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (non-surgical)
  • Sacral Neuromodulation (surgical)

The symptoms of Urinary Incontinence are different depending on which type of Urinary Incontinence that you have. Our dedicated team at Florida Urogynecology is experienced with all types of incontinence. Please speak with your primary doctor or contact Florida Urogynecology to schedule a consultation.