Urinary incontinence is remarkably common: Recent studies show that more than 60% of American women experience this issue today. The premier urology specialists at the Urology Surgery Center Northwest in Spokane, Washington, offer a range of treatments. These include medication and advanced methods like biofeedback and nerve stimulation to retrain your bladder and restore normal urination. Book your appointment online today or call the office to schedule your visit.
Urinary incontinence is accidental urine leakage. The several types of urinary incontinence include:
Stress incontinence is urine leakage when pressure is placed on your bladder. Common triggers of this leakage include sneezing, laughing, and strenuous exercise.
Urge incontinence, sometimes called overactive bladder, is a sudden strong need to urinate, followed by urine leakage before you make it to the toilet.
Overflow incontinence is a rarer form in which you can’t empty your bladder completely, leading to residual urine leakage.
Some people experience mixed incontinence, with more than one kind of incontinence at the same time.
Urinary incontinence can be caused by many things. But it generally occurs when the pelvic floor muscles are overstretched or weakened.
Pregnancy and childbirth are common causes of these pelvic floor muscle changes. Other factors, like nerve injury, chronic cough, and pelvic surgery, can contribute to urinary incontinence.
Menopause causes a drop in estrogen and a corresponding change in the tissues of the bladder and urethra. This can lead to urinary incontinence.
In men, urinary incontinence can be a symptom of prostate cancer, however, it’s more often a treatment side-effect.
When an underlying disease’s debilitating physical or mental effects cause urinary incontinence, for example, Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s, it’s called functional urinary incontinence.
Several treatments exist today, including:
Sometimes, you’ll need to make lifestyle changes. For example, certain foods or drinks like caffeine-containing beverages can trigger urine leakage, so you’ll need to limit those things.
If you have functional incontinence, your treatment focuses primarily on treating the underlying condition. But you might also need medication or other treatment for your incontinence symptoms.
Whether you need lifestyle changes or a minimally invasive procedure to treat your urinary incontinence, the Urology Surgery Center Northwest can help you get the best results and improve your quality of life.
Book your appointment today by clicking the online scheduling feature or calling the office.