Women’s Continence Clinic
According to the National Institutes of Health, urinary incontinence is second only to arthritis as the most common chronic condition in the United States. And unfortunately, it is a silent problem - more than half of those with symptoms don’t talk to their doctor. If left untreated, incontinence can profoundly affect a woman’s quality of life. She may give up her favorite activities for fear of having an embarrassing accident.
Help is Available
Although urinary incontinence affects a large part of the population, it isn’t an inevitable consequence of aging and is very treatable. The good news is that about 80 percent of people with urinary incontinence can be cured or symptoms improved, and the Women’s Continence Clinic at Overlake is here to help.
The two most common types of urinary incontinence are stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urinary urge incontinence (UUI). SUI is the most common and occurs when pressure is exerted on the bladder during activities like sneezing, coughing, laughing, running, lifting or bending. Women with UUI (overactive bladder) experience a strong, sudden urge to urinate, followed by a loss of bladder control. Incontinence may be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, genetic factors or neurologic injury. Underlying problems due to weakened pelvic floor or bladder muscles, certain diseases, medications, obesity or constipation may also be causes of incontinence. Providers at the Women's Continence Clinic will review all medical conditions that may factor into your incontinence before testing or treatment.
Sophisticated Diagnostics Pinpoint the Problem
Video urodynamics can be used to diagnose certain incontinence conditions. This procedure can help evaluate the severity and type of a patient’s urinary incontinence, and determine the best therapy by assessing the muscles used for urination, how the bladder stores urine and how the urethra releases it.
If urinary urgency incontinence is suspected, video urodynamics can confirm if the bladder muscle is indeed overactive. If symptoms point to stress urinary incontinence, the doctor can assess bladder pressure. In both cases, the results of the procedure will help guide treatment.
A Range of Treatment Options
Treatments for incontinence range from nonsurgical remedies, such as Kegel exercises, biofeedback or medication, to noninvasive procedures, such as injections, implants, slings or electrical stimulation. Experts at the Women's Continence Clinic will help determine which treatment option is best for your condition.
Biofeedback, behavioral strategies and other techniques are utilized to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and decrease incontinence due to stress, urgency and/or frequency.
The sling method is the most common surgical approach in treating SUI. In this minimally invasive surgery, a sling is placed beneath the urethra causing urethral compression during times of activity such as coughing, sneezing or exercise. If traditional methods for an overactive bladder (UUI), haven’t worked, for instance, sacral nerve stimulation (also known as InterStim® therapy) may be the next best treatment option. This therapy involves the surgical implantation of a small device that sends mild electrical impulses to the sacral nerves in the lower back, which reduces or eliminates the strong urge to urinate.
Another urogynecologic disorder that may cause incontinence is pelvic organ prolapse (also called uterine or vaginal prolapse). Prolapse occurs when pelvic floor muscles weaken and the surrounding organs protrude into the vagina. Kegel exercises are useful in re-training pelvic floor muscles and preventing and helping minor prolapse. In some cases, reconstructive surgery may be needed to correct prolapse.
