Urinary Incontinence

What is urinary incontinence?

Simply put, urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. For some women, this means just leaking a small amount of urine infrequently, while others experience significant loss of urine at unpredictable times.

Stress incontinence occurs when exercising, coughing, sneezing, or another action creates pressure on your bladder. Urge incontinence is marked by a sudden need to urinate followed by an uncontrollable loss of urine. 

Overflow incontinence happens when your bladder doesn’t fully empty during bathroom trips, leading to leakage in between. Functional incontinence is a loss of urine due to a condition that keeps you from making it to the bathroom on time. It’s not uncommon for women to have more than one of these types of incontinence. 

What causes urinary incontinence?

The aging process is one of the primary causes of urinary incontinence. As you age, all of your tissues go through changes, including the organs and structures that support healthy urinary function. 

Pregnancy and childbirth can also lead to urinary incontinence. Even something as unpredictable as a traumatic accident can cause problems with urination. 

Many women feel embarrassed about urinary incontinence, but it’s a common issue that can be treated in many different ways. There’s no need to feel ashamed, but there’s also no need to live with urinary incontinence when there are treatments that can help. 

What can be done to treat urinary incontinence?

Some women can find relief from urinary incontinence by performing pelvic floor muscle exercises. The basic process involves tightening the muscles you use to stop urinating and holding the squeeze for five-second intervals, building up to longer contractions over time. 

Additional treatment options include:

Pessary

This is a stiff ring placed inside your vagina and worn throughout the day. This approach is a good solution for women with some forms of pelvic floor prolapse. 

O-ShotⓇ 

This treatment uses an injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to promote healing and new cellular growth. When injected near the opening of your urethra, PRP can stimulate tissue regeneration and repair urethral damage. 

VotivaⓇ

This treatment uses targeted radiofrequency to stimulate new cell growth in your vaginal and nearby tissues. A few painless sessions can improve urinary incontinence as well as restore vaginal lubrication and sensitivity. 

TVT-O

A tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure is a treatment option for pelvic organ prolapse. This occurs when your bladder or urethra detaches from the normal positioning and sags downward, impeding the normal flow of urine. A small band of surgical tape is placed beneath your urethra and bladder to maintain proper positioning and restore normal urinary function.

If you’d like more information on these or other urinary incontinence solutions, call Dr. Riftine’s office today to book a visit, or spend a few moments on the online scheduling page.