Urinary incontinence – loss of bladder control – affects one in four women ages 30 to 59. It affects women of all ages, both young and old. For many, it is embarrassing and can alter lifestyles. It can have devastating psychological, social and emotional consequences as women may avoid public outings. For those who are silently suffering from urinary incontinence, you are not alone.
At the Institute For Women’s Health, some of our physicians offer convenient in–office procedures to help evaluate this often untreated problem. Women can come to one of our offices and receive a non–surgical urodynamic evaluation that will determine the cause of incontinence in about 30 minutes.
A woman in her late 30’s was experiencing bladder leakage after having her third child last year. She was embarrassed by having accidents every time she sneezed. She came to me searching for answers. When I explained that her problem could be evaluated within a matter of minutes, she was at ease. One week later, I performed a transvaginal sling support and advised her to rest for four weeks. About three months later, she came in and told me she had no more accidents. She was happy to finally have her life back.
Urinary incontinence is more common among women than men because of many factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and the structure of the female urinary tract. It can also occur because of the side effect of medications, or an underlying condition such as obesity, diabetes or infection. The good news is that in most cases incontinence is treatable and can be cured. Urinary incontinence is not a disease; it is a symptom.
The fist step in the recovery process is admitting and accepting this is a problem; urinary incontinence is not a normal process of aging. It is also important to have open communication between you and your physician. Don’t be embarrassed about suffering from the effects of urinary incontinence. Our physicians are sensitive, understanding, and are happy to help.
The three main types of urinary incontinence include: Urge incontinence, which is a strong desire to urinate and the inability to control oneself long enough to reach a toilet. Overflow incontinence is when the bladder fills beyond its capacity and small amounts of urine leak even though the person does not feel the urge to urinate. Stress incontinence is very common in women and refers to leakage of a small amount of urine when sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting, jogging or doing anything that causes abdominal pressure to override the bladder’s normal closure mechanism. Many times urinary incontinence can be alone or linked together.
Urodynamic evaluation performed quickly in our offices.
Many of our physicians offer urodynamic evaluation, which is a simple, painless procedure that allows us to evaluate any problems that may be occurring with the bladder. Instead of going to the hospital, patients can come to one of our offices and receive evaluation. It takes about 30 minutes to complete and does not involve any sedation. During the evaluation, a small tube will be placed in the bladder and the vagina. Using a sterile solution, the tubes will be filled to measure any pressure generated in the bladder. Patients may be asked to report any sensations they feel and to cough, bear down or stand. The results of the procedure will help the physicians determine the best course of action.
After a diagnosis has been made, we may suggest a treatment option such as Kegel exercises, medication, or surgical correction. Remember, everyone is different and your treatment plan will be specific for your needs.
If you or someone you know is silently suffering, the physicians at the Institute For Women’s Health are here for you. Call 34–WOMAN or visit www.ifwh.org.
