What is Urinary Incontinence in Women and how can Dr. Amar Raval help?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  1. Women commonly experience stress incontinence and urge incontinence, both of which can significantly impact their quality of life.
  2. Dr. Amar Raval offers various treatment options, including medications, Interstim devices, Botox, needle acupuncture, urethral slings, and robotic surgery.
  3. The Advanced Urology Institute, led by Dr. Raval, is committed to helping women improve their quality of life and confidence by addressing urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life, causing embarrassment, discomfort, and inconvenience. Dr. Amar J. Raval, a urologist in Tampa, FL, offers various treatment options for women suffering from urinary incontinence. The Advanced Urology Institute, the largest urology practice in Florida, provides comprehensive care for women experiencing urinary incontinence and other urological issues.

Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women

Women often experience two main types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when women leak urine during activities that put pressure on the bladder, such as laughing, coughing, or sneezing. Urge incontinence involves a sudden, intense urge to urinate, followed by involuntary leakage of urine. Both conditions can be distressing and inconvenient, but treatment options are available to help manage the symptoms and improve women’s quality of life.

Treatment Options for Urinary Incontinence

Dr. Raval offers a variety of treatment options to help women manage urinary incontinence. These options include:

 

  1. Medications: Some medications can help control the symptoms of urinary incontinence, particularly urge incontinence.
  2. Interstim device: This device stimulates the sacral nerves, helping to regulate bladder control and reducing the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
  3. Botox: Injections of Botox into the bladder can help relax the bladder muscles, decreasing urinary urgency and leakage.
  4. Needle acupuncture: Acupuncture needles can help stimulate specific points on the body, which may help reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
  5. Urethral slings: These surgical devices can support the urethra and help prevent stress incontinence.
  6. Robotic surgery: For women experiencing bladder prolapse, robotic surgery can lift the bladder and prevent further prolapse.

Improved Quality of Life and Confidence

By addressing urinary incontinence, women can experience improved confidence and quality of life. Dr. Raval and the team at the Advanced Urology Institute are dedicated to helping women regain control over their bladder and live more comfortably and confidently.

Advanced Urology Institute

The Advanced Urology Institute is the largest urology practice in Florida, providing comprehensive care for patients experiencing urinary incontinence and other urological issues. Led by experienced professionals like Dr. Amar Raval, the institute offers personalized treatment plans designed to address each patient’s unique needs and preferences.

TRANSCRIPTION:

Women generally present with issues like stress incontinence where they laugh, cough and sneeze

and leak urine or feel the urge to go don’t make it in time and leak urine and those are

big issues for them to have to wet themselves while they’re out in public and to be able

to control that with either it’s a medication or different other devices whether it’s an

interstim device, Botox or you know even a needle acupuncture needle that can have sense

to help mitigate that. I think there’s a lot of options that are available as well as for

stress incontinence, urethral slings or if they have prolapse or bladder prolapse or there’s also

robotic surgery that you can do to kind of lift the bladder up and to prevent the prolapse. So

I think from a lifestyle standpoint it makes a big difference and women are generally happier

and more confident in themselves.

REFERENCES:

Dr. Samuel Lawindy Talks About How to Treat Urge Incontinence in Women

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Urge incontinence is a condition characterized by a strong, sudden uncontrollable urge to pass urine, which often results in urine leakage. It is often caused by dysfunction of the bladder or pelvic floor muscles due to factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, and hormonal changes around menopause.
  • The treatment for urge incontinence often involves a combination of medications, such as anticholinergics and beta adrenergics, and behavioral treatments like bladder training, pelvic muscle exercises, biofeedback, or urge suppression. If medications don’t work, minimally invasive procedures may be recommended.
  • At Advanced Urology Institute, prompt, reliable, and effective treatment is provided to patients suffering from urge incontinence, emphasizing that it is a treatable medical problem and should not be accepted as a normal part of aging.

At Advanced Urology Institute we see an increasingly high number of women presenting with urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is a condition where you are unable or have difficulty holding urine in your bladder long enough to reach the bathroom.  And so, it is characterized by a strong, sudden uncontrollable urge to pass urine, which often results in urine leakage.

What are the signs that a woman has urge incontinence?

  1. Urine leaks associated with a sudden compelling desire to pass urine
  2. Strong urge to urinate frequently
  3. Changing multiple incontinence pads through the day
  4. Awkward leaks of urine that cause embarrassment
  5. Organizing life and activities around bathroom locations when in new environment

What causes urge incontinence?

Even though up to 50-percent of women may have urge incontinence at some point in their lifetime, roughly 10-20 percent experience extremely bothersome urge-related urine leakage. 

Incontinence may occur as a separate condition, but in some women, it presents alongside other forms of incontinence due to an underlying medical condition. 

Urge incontinence is often caused by dysfunction of the bladder or pelvic floor muscles. 

Generally the dysfunction is due to:

  1. Pregnancy
  2. Childbirth
  3. Hormonal changes just before or after menopause

How is urge incontinence treated?

If you have persistent urge-related urine leaks, consider seeking a board certified urologist for a prompt diagnosis.  During your visit, the doctor will take your medical history and conduct a complete physical examination focused on your urinary system, reproductive organs and nervous system. The doctor will also order various tests which will likely include an analysis of your urine sample.

If urge incontinence is diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe medications to relax your bladder and pelvic muscles as a way of relieving the symptoms. The medications may be used alone or in combination with behavioral treatments, such as bladder training, pelvic muscle exercises, biofeedback, or urge suppression.

The two major classes of medications used for urge incontinence are: anticholinergics and beta adrenergics.  

The anticholinergic drugs include:

  • Darifenacin (Enablex)
  • Fesoterodine (Toviaz)
  • Oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol, Gelnique)
  • Solifenacin (VESIcare),
  • Tolterodine (Detrol),
  • Trospium (Sanctura). 

The beta adrenergic medications include:

  • Mirabegron (Myrbetriq)
  • Vibegron (Gemtesa)

Your doctor may also recommend vaginal estrogen (creams, pellets or rings) as a form of estrogen replacement therapy to help you if the incontinence is due to menopause, particularly if the incontinence occurs alongside vaginal atrophy (dryness).

If medications don’t work, your urologist may consider minimally invasive procedures. A procedure such as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, sacral neuro-modulation therapy (Interstim), or Botox bladder injection may be recommended.

Prompt, reliable and effective treatment

At Advanced Urology Institute, we encourage patients to believe that urine leakage does not have to be a normal part of aging.  Incontinence is a medical problem that can be treated effectively to reduce symptoms or eliminate the problem completely.  So we strongly insist that no woman should tolerate or endure this kind of discomfort, especially when it is bothersome and is affecting their quality of life.

If you’re struggling with embarrassing urine leakage, please get in touch with us to schedule your consultation and find out how we can help you. At AUI, we offer some of the latest and best interventions in treating urological disorders.  For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence and other urologic disorders, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”

TRANSCRIPTION:

So my name is Samuel Lawindy.
I’m a board certified urologist at Advanced Urology Institute.
So there is urgency and urgent incontinence for women.
That occurs when someone feels that they have the desire to go to the bathroom and they
can’t quite make it in time and then they’ll be leaking urine before they get there, wearing
multiple pads throughout the day, always aware of where the bathroom is and that commercial
everyone knows about got to go, go, go to the bathroom.
That’s urgent incontinence.
Very easily treated with medications and multiple different medications can be utilized.
If that doesn’t work, then there is some minimally invasive surgical procedures that can help you.

REFERENCES:

What are the Conditions We Treat at Advanced Urology Institute?

Are you looking for comprehensive, effective, and safe urology services in Florida?

Advanced Urology Institute is here for you. 

With a healthcare institure designed to provide excellent, compassionate, patient-centered urologic care, Advanced Urology Institute offers top-notch, life-changing, and life-saving urology services. 

Through our experienced board-certified physicians, we’ve become a one-stop center for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and care for all types of urological conditions. 

We have well-equipped, thoroughly-resourced urology centers throughout the state of Florida, ensuring you can enjoy and access the highest level of care from a facility near you.

What conditions do we treat?

At Advanced Urology Institute, we use a multidisciplinary approach to help our patients diagnose, treat manage and recover from all urologic conditions. 

This includes prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, painful urination, kidney and bladder stones, erectile dysfunction, and cancers of the bladder and kidney, ureter, and testicles.

For the men, we offer diagnosis and treatment of:

  1. Enlarged prostate (BPH)
  2. Bladder problems
  3. Erectile dysfunction and male infertility
  4. Penis and testicle problems
  5. Low testosterone (low T)
  6. Peyronie’s disease
  7. Urinary incontinence
  8. Overactive bladder
  9. Vasectomy and vasectomy reversal
  10. Urinary tract infection
  11. Prostatitis
  12. Kidney stone removal

For the women, we diagnose and treat:

  1. Chronic pelvic pain
  2. Vaginal dryness
  3. Vaginal pain
  4. Pelvic organ prolapse
  5. Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  6. Urinary incontinence
  7. Overactive bladder
  8. Interstitial cystitis
  9. Pyuria
  10. Kidney and bladder stone removal

Life-saving cancer care

We offer safe and effective state-of-the-art treatments, minimally-invasive surgical procedures, and palliative care for cancer patients who desire the highest level of cancer care. 

Our medical and surgical teams take a collaborative approach to treatment. Integrating expert knowledge from recent research and various innovations and specialties, we can ensure every patient receives the utmost care for the best possible outcomes.

We diagnose and treat:

  1. Prostate cancer
  2. Testicular cancer
  3. Bladder cancer
  4. Kidney cancer
  5. Urethra cancer
  6. Retroperitoneal tumors
  7. Soft tissue tumors

Wide range of revolutionary technology

Advanced Urology Institute boasts a friendly and supportive environment where providers offer urology services that integrate the latest technology in diagnosing and treating various conditions. 

As a result, AUI has an exceptional track record in diagnosing and treating urological problems and a reputation for outstanding outcomes for patients.

Some of the techniques we use include:

  1. Minimally-invasive incontinence procedures
  2. Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery for prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, female pelvic prolapse, and pediatric and adult urologic conditions
  3. Minimally-invasive prostate surgery
  4. Reconstructive bladder and kidney surgery
  5. Partial and total nephrectomy
  6. Endoscopic stone surgery, including percutaneous techniques
  7. Minimally-invasive endoscopic, percutaneous, and shockwave nephrolithotomy for renal calculi
  8. Urodynamics
  9. Penile implant surgery
  10. Testosterone replacement therapy
  11. Vasectomy and vasectomy reversal
  12. Sacral nerve stimulator (interstim)
  13. Botox injections
  14. Pediatric surgery, including circumcisions, hypospadias, and orchidopexy
  15. Cryoablation and cryotherapy for prostate cancer
  16. MRI fusion biopsies of the prostate
  17. Radiotherapy including brachytherapy, oncology services, and clinical trials

Safe, reliable, and effective urology care

At Advanced Urology Institute, we are committed to treating others as we would like to be treated. We value and prioritize the wellbeing of our patients and want to see them overcome their condition and live fulfilling lives. 

We offer urology services tailored to our patient’s needs and give safe, effective therapies that will deliver the best outcomes.

When you visit AUI, you will feel at ease and encouraged by the support you will receive.

We are committed to answering all your questions and providing you with the best information to help you make the best decisions about your health.

Call us today to schedule your consultation and find relief from your urological problem.

Urinary Incontinence in Women

The loss of bladder control known as Urinary Incontinence is a normal problem that is more common in women than men. The effects of urinary incontinence range from barely noticeable to severe. As Dr. Amar Raval from the Advance Urology Institute says, “It is a big issue for women out in public.” Incontinence can cause difficult and embarrassing situations.

There are many causes of urinary incontinence. To understand these causes, it is important to remember that urinary incontinence is a symptom, not a disease. Lifestyle choices that can exacerbate the problem include consuming alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and certain medications. For women, life events that affect women’s bodies in a way that can cause incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and aging. Other causes can be found in weight, family history and health.

Dr. Amar Raval of Palm Harbor, FLThe different types of urinary incontinence can exhibit a variety of symptoms. Stress incontinence is characterized by small leaks of urine due to pressure on the bladder while laughing, coughing, sneezing or exerting oneself. The small leaks of overflow incontinence happen when the bladder has not fully emptied during urination. Urge incontinence is the sudden and intense urge to urinate, sometimes resulting in an involuntary loss of urine. Having to urinate frequently through the night is another symptom experienced by women with urge incontinence. It is also common for women to be affected by more than one of these types of incontinence.

Fortunately, a wide range of treatment options is available. Women can work with their urologist to find the best treatment option for their individual situation. In some cases, treatment can be as easy as making slight lifestyle changes or taking an oral medication. Botox and acupuncture can help relieve stress incontinence. For more advanced cases, urethral slings can ease symptoms by lifting the urethra into a normal position, and robotic surgeries can lift the bladder in cases of incontinence caused by a prolapse.

The loss of bladder control can be a lifestyle limiting problem for women when it affects their ability to leave the house and maintain normal activities. The urologists at the Advance Urology Institute work closely with each patient to ensure they can live with freedom and confidence, and without the worries of incontinence. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Urologists Also Treat Women

Urologists are physicians who specialize in treating the male and female urinary systems, as well as the organs of the male reproductive system. Because men and women can both have problems with their urinary tract systems, many women see urologists for treatment. According to board certified urologist Dr. Howard Epstein, “We usually see women for things like bladder cancer, kidney stones, kidney cancer or incontinence.” Recurring urinary tract infections is another common reason for women to see a urologist.

Although both men and women see urologists, they usually see urologists for different reasons. For instance, women are more prone to urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control which can cause urine leaks. The degree of the severity of incontinence varies on a case-by-case basis. Some women experience urinary leakage when they laugh, cough or exercise. Urinary incontinence is so common in women that at least half of older women experience some degree of it. Urologists can treat incontinence with a wide range of options, including lifestyle changes, medication, devices, and in some cases surgery.

Urinary tract infections Howard Epstein, MD of St Augustine, FL(UTIs) are another issue that brings many women, especially older women, to their urologist’s office. UTIs are another urinary issue that can affect both men and women, but they are far more common in women than men. About half of all women will have a UTI in their lifetimes, while only 1 in 10 men will. UTIs are infections that happen in the bladder or urethra. Symptoms include burning while urinating, frequent urges to urinate, and pain in the lower back and abdomen. Urologists can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Kidney stones are another issue for which women seek help from their urologist. These stones, made of salt and mineral deposits in the kidneys, can become lodged in the urinary tract causing a wide range of issues. Symptoms include pain, nausea, vomiting, and even fever. In some cases, the pain can be so severe that some women liken it to childbirth, if not worse. There are several treatment options available for kidney stones, and finding the right one depends on the size and location of the stone. Shock wave lithotripsy can be used as a non-invasive way to break up the stones into small, easily passable pieces. In some cases, more invasive extraction methods might be needed.

All of these urological treatment options, from medications to surgeries, have their side effects. It is important for women to be able to have conversations with their urologist about their health issues and the possible side effects of treatment. For many women with urinary problems, the path to relief begins with a consultation with a urologist at the Advanced Urology Institute.

The Two Most Common Female Urology Problems

Although it can feel embarrassing to discuss them with your doctor, problems with your kidneys, bladder and other parts of the urinary system are very common and are usually highly treatable. For women, two of the most common problems are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urinary incontinence.

Urinary Tract Infection

Chelsie Ferrell, PA of DeLand, FLA urinary tract infection is an infection of a part of the urinary system which includes the bladder, kidneys, ureters and urethra. A UTI can occur when bacteria enters the urinary system, usually via the urethra. Symptoms of a UTI include a strong, constant need to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, and urine that is cloudy or pink or red-tinged and has a strong smell. There also may be pain around the pelvis. Although UTIs are usually not serious, if the infection spreads from the bladder into the kidneys, complications can occur. If you are diagnosed with a UTI, your doctor most likely will prescribe antibiotics to help clear up the infection.

UTIS are more common in women than men because women have shorter urethras. There are easy steps you can take to prevent getting a UTI. Drinking plenty of liquids, wiping from front to back after using the restroom, and urinating soon after sexual intercourse are all important preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing a UTI.

Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the involuntary release of urine, is also a common problem for women, especially those who have given birth or have gone through menopause. These life events weaken the pelvic floor, making muscle control around the bladder more difficult. Incontinence also can be caused by weak or overactive bladder muscles or nerve damage.

Incontinence can vary in severity. For some women, this means only a few drops of urine being released when they cough or laugh. Others may experience a sudden urge to urinate and lose control of their bladders before they have time to get to a restroom. This can cause feelings of embarrassment and keep women from participating in activities they enjoy. Thankfully, urinary incontinence is very treatable. If it is becoming a major nuisance in your life, talk to your doctor about specific treatment steps to permanently help deal with the issue rather than addressing the symptoms.

Although problems with the urinary system can feel embarrassing, it is important to remember that you are not alone and that these issues are treatable. The physicians at Advanced Urology Institute are here to help with any urological issues you may be facing. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

How Do You Treat Common Urology Problems?

There are numerous conditions that affect the urinary system in both men and women. Ordinarily, diseases of the urinary system affect one or more parts of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, ureters, and in men, the prostate gland.Common urology problems include urinary tract infections, incontinence or urine leakage, pelvic organ prolapse in women, overactive or underactive bladder, enlarged prostate in men and kidney or bladder stones. Most urological conditions can be treated and the patient can return to full health.

Treatment of Common Urology problems

The treatment of a patient will depend on how far the illness has progressed and how severe the symptoms are. The most common treatment methods are:

1. Behavioral modifications and Physical Therapy

Once a specific condition is diagnosed, the first course of treatment focuses on:
a. Changing any of the patient’s behavioral practices that may contribute to the disease; and
b. Introducing practices that strengthen the affected organ or the body in general.
For example, when patients are diagnosed with incontinence, they may be advised to cut down on the intake of fluids such as water and coffee. Similarly, patients with pelvic organ prolapse may be advised to undertake pelvic exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.

2. Medication

Medication can be prescribed for urological conditions in the same way that they are prescribed for other illnesses. Medication works for moderate to severe illnesses that cannot be managed through behavioral modifications alone. Some medications are taken orally while others may be injected. The most common categories of drugs include:
a. Antibiotics. Antibiotics treat simple cases of urinary tract infections successfully.
b. Anticholinergics. These treat an overactive bladder.
c. Alpha-blockers. These are used to treat prostate enlargement in men.

3. Surgical Procedures

The severity of a problem may require that a patient undergo surgery. Most urological surgeries are minimally invasive. Urologists use technological tools that make the procedure less painful and less traumatic, with the result that a patient recovers very quickly. There are a variety of minimally invasive procedures for treating pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and an enlarged prostate in men.

The appropriate course of treatment can only be determined after tests are conducted and a diagnosis is made. The available forms of treatment may be used. Our specialists at Advanced Urology Institute can help you find the right tests and work with you on a plan of treatment that is most beneficial to you. They can answer any questions or concerns and help you reach your own decisions on your care. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Causes of a Weak Urine Flow

The inability to start or maintain urine flow, causing dribbling or weak urine flow, is called urinary hesitancy. It can occur at any age for all genders, but it is by far most common among aging men. Urinary hesitancy develops gradually but if left untreated, it can lead to a complete inability to pass urine, also known as urine retention. Due to its prevalence among older men, weak urine flow has always been associated with an enlarged prostate gland, a condition very common in older men. This, however, is not the only cause of a weak urine flow.

Causes of a weak Urine Flow

1. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostate hyperplasia is the medical term for an enlarged prostate. As a man ages, the prostate grows to a size larger than what is normal. The prostate’s location around the tip of the urethra means that the enlarged prostate presses on the urethra and blocks the passage of urine. This whole or partial obstruction slows down the flow of urine. BPH is the main cause of a weak urine flow in men over the age of 45.

2. Underactive Bladder (UAB)

Dr. Jonathan Jay: Naples, FLAn underactive bladder is a medical condition characterized by weak urine flow and an inability to empty the bladder completely. The condition is best understood as the opposite of the overactive bladder (OAB) which has received wider attention and is known to cause urinary incontinence, the urgent and frequent urges to urinate. Patients suffering from an underactive bladder have a diminished sense of when their bladder is full and are not able to contract the bladder fully. The condition can occur when there is damage to the bladder peripheral pathways or to the lumbosacral spinal cord. It is also common in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, Parkinson’s disease and pelvic fractures.

3. Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO)

As the name suggests, this is a condition that occurs when there is a blockage at the neck or the base of the bladder. The blockage completely prevents or reduces urine flow from the bladder. It occurs in both women and men, but is more common in older men. It can be caused by bladder stones, scar tissue in the urethra, bladder cancer or an enlarged prostate.

It is clear that weak urine flow has a variety of causes. It is very important to see a urologist to determine the exact cause of a weak flow. An appropriate plan of treatment can be set up once it has been determined what is creating the problem. It is recommended that you consider seeking out trained, experienced and board approved urologists if you are having problems with weak urine flow.

At AUI, we offer patient-friendly and multidisciplinary urology services for a wide range of problems, including weak urine flow. For more information, visit the “Advanced Urology Institute” site.

For more information, visit the “Advanced Urology Institute” website.

What Does Dr. Nicole Szell Say About Women’s Urinary Incontinence?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Urinary incontinence in women can be classified into different types, such as stress or urge incontinence, which require different treatment approaches.
  • Treatment for urinary incontinence can involve lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, medications, and in some cases, surgery.
  • It’s essential to consult a urologist for appropriate diagnosis and treatment for urinary incontinence to improve symptoms and quality of life.

When you complain to us about urinary incontinence, we will take quick vital steps to help you. For instance, if you are able to immediately provide a clean-catch urine sample, we will do a urinalysis to rule out urinary tract infection. We also will ask you to keep a three-day voiding diary to enable us to classify and identify the cause and severity of your incontinence. Then we will schedule a follow-up visit before we begin treatment to review the timing, quantity, severity and circumstances of your typical episodes of urine leakage, particularly those that you find most troubling.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

The treatment approach we adopt for each case depends on the type of incontinence and severity of symptoms. In women, the most common types are stress or urge incontinence, but some women may have mixed incontinence, where urge and stress incontinence occur simultaneously. When episodes of urine leakage occur following a physical act like sneezing, coughing, heavy lifting or bending over, that is stress incontinence. On the other hand, urine loss associated with a strong uncontrollable need to void is urge incontinence. So we will use the three-day voiding diary, medical history, physical exam and any necessary tests to determine what type of incontinence you have in order to administer the right treatment.

Lifestyle Changes

Once the type of incontinence is determined, we will embark on appropriate treatment for your condition. For example, if we find that you have early-stage incontinence with rare or less troubling symptoms, we will reassure you that your condition is not that bad and recommend a number of lifestyle changes to improve your situation. We are good at building close and abiding relationships with our patients, so we will explain the diagnosis caringly and instruct you compassionately on what lifestyle changes we want you to make. For instance, since timed voiding is quite helpful with nocturnal urge incontinence, we may instruct that you set an alarm every night an hour before the usual time you wake up with a deep sense of urgency and empty your bladder before it gets full to the point of leakage. We also may advise that you reduce your overall fluid intake, avoid caffeine, spicy foods or carbonated drinks.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

We often recommend Kegel (pelvic floor) exercises for women with stress incontinence. Well-timed, regular Kegel and bladder retraining exercises help to relieve symptoms and treat the condition. We will instruct you on the right technique for these exercises and work with you on a plan to help you practice them until they become second nature. We recommend that you begin by exercising the pelvic floor muscles 4 times a day and gradually increase this to 8 times a day, making sure also to use bladder retraining exercises to increase the interval of time you take between your bathroom visits. We will guide you all the way, checking on you to find out if there is any relief from the symptoms as you implement the exercise regimen.

Anticholinergic Medications

In case of a severe, debilitating urinary incontinence with very bothersome and embarrassing symptoms, we may give anticholinergic (anti-muscarinic) medications to eliminate bladder spasms and relieve the symptoms of incontinence. Some common medications we may recommend include Detrol, Vesicare, Ditropan XL, Enablex, Urispas and Oxytrol, with Oxytrol being available even without prescription. Apart from medications, we may advise you to use absorbent pads, panty liners or similar products, to prevent urine leakage or possible embarrassment from a potential leakage. A good example is the pessary, a plastic insert into the vagina, which we may recommend for supporting your bladder’s neck and preventing urine leakage associated with stress incontinence.

Surgery

If these treatments fail to give enough relief, we may opt for surgery. For instance, we may surgically implant small nerve stimulators just beneath your skin to stimulate the nerves controlling the pelvic floor area and manipulate the contraction of the muscles within your pelvic floor. Or we may opt for the sling procedure, a surgical intervention in which a strap of natural tissue or synthetic mesh is added to support the urethra. We also may conduct procedures to restore your bladder to its original position.

Are you worried about urine loss when you sneeze or cough? Do you always have to stop what you are doing and rush to the bathroom whenever your bladder is full? Or do you fear going out with your friends because of a possible urine leakage? Do not suffer in silence. At Advanced Urology Institute, we have been treating urinary incontinence in women for many years and have the tools and personnel to solve your problem. Whether you just started having urine leaks recently or have had the problem for so long that you have decided to avoid the social activities you used to love, we will give you the right treatment to help you recover. For more information on treating urinary incontinence in women, visit the “Advanced Urology Institute” site.

TRANSCRIPTION: 

Hi, I’m Dr. Nicole Szell, I’m a board certified urologist with Advanced Urology Institute.

I think the first thing that’s really important to understand when a patient comes in with these issues is how debilitating is it for them?

Are they in the early stages, it doesn’t bother them that much, they just need to be reassured that it’s something that happens to a lot of women, it could get worse, or it could remain the same, or is it become so debilitating to them that they are willing to have surgery or other invasive maneuvers in order to help prevent it.

REFERENCES: