Urinary incontinence is leaking urine, which can be categorized as only a few drops or a complete emptying of the bladder.
Unfortunately, urinary incontinence generally carries other symptoms, including a strong urgency to urinate; an increase in frequency of urination; dysuria, painful urination; nocturia, waking from sleep to urinate; and nocturnal enuresis, leaking of urine during sleep.
There are different forms of urinary incontinence:
Your urinary incontinence could be caused by a urinary tract infection; alcohol, caffeine or a diuretic medication; constipation; anatomical problems; neuromuscular conditions; or pelvic floor disorders like pelvic organ prolapse.
A pelvic exam may be administered to check for organ prolapse and other anatomical problem. A cough test may also be administered. During a cough test, you’ll be asked to cough and bear down with a full bladder to see if there are any urine leaks.
Nonsurgical treatment is generally advised to treat urinary incontinence, which includes:
If these options aren’t effective, your doctor may also suggest surgery.
Surgeries to treat stress urinary incontinence include:
If surgery is not an option, your doctor may suggest urethral bulking, which acts to plump up the urethra, narrowing the opening, thereby decreasing leakage.
For urgency urinary incontinence, other surgeries are available. These include:
NOTE: Sylacauga OB-GYN does not perform all surgeries listed above. Depending on your unique situation, we may refer you to one of our partners. We will provide guidance on your options.
If you’re suffering from urinary incontinence, our staff at Sylacauga OB-GYN can walk you through your options and determine a solution that’s right for you. For over a decade, we’ve been a leader in effective, quality women’s healthcare in Sylacauga.