Bladder Control & Urinary Incontinence
Having issues with bladder control can feel both frustrating and embarrassing, but you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Urinary incontinence (UI), also known as a loss of bladder control or leaking urine, can come in many forms. Incontinence affects women up to twice as much as men and can range from leaking just a few drops of urine to complete emptying of the bladder.
If you’re experiencing any amount of urine leakage, you could be suffering from urinary incontinence. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone — this condition can happen to anyone and becomes more common with age. Summit Women’s Health is here to support you through any experience of incontinence.
What other symptoms occur with urinary incontinence?
If you’re experiencing incontinence, or leaking urine, it is common to experience these related symptoms:
Urgency — Having a strong urge to urinate.
Frequency — Urinating more often than what is usual for you.
Dysuria — Experiencing painful urination.
Nocturia — Waking from sleep to urinate.
Nocturnal enuresis — Leaking urine while sleeping.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a result of weak or overactive muscles, specifically those which control the opening and closing of the bladder. A weak bladder could lead to you wetting yourself while coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects. This is known as stress incontinence.
An overactive bladder leads to the urge to urinate even with little or no urine in the bladder, and is known as urge incontinence.
There are several other types of incontinence, and it’s important to understand that urinary incontinence could be a symptom of other, more severe conditions. Contacting Summit Women’s Health is the first step to treating the incontinence and making sure that your overall health is protected.
How is stress incontinence treated?
Treatment for urinary incontinence will vary depending on the cause. Some forms of stress incontinence can be treated with physical therapy, while other forms may be addressed by discussing your personal experience and habits with our Summit Women’s Health providers.
For patients experiencing stress incontinence, our providers offer options such as tension-free vaginal tape, or TVT. This treatment involves having a mesh tape surgically inserted through tiny incisions in the abdomen and vaginal walls. It acts as a support for the urethra, keeping it in a normal position when coughing or during sudden movements, to limit leakage.
How can urge incontinence be treated?
Summit Women’s Health specializes in a method of treatment known as InterStim therapy. Also known as peripheral nerve stimulation, InterStim therapy uses tiny implantable wires to send mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves located near the tailbone. The electrical pulses lead to proper communication between those nerves and the brain, creating better bladder control. InterStim therapy is reversible, so the wires do not have to stay implanted forever, but it is very effective in treating urge incontinence and other forms of incontinence when needed.
An overactive bladder can also benefit from BOTOX® injections. Yes, you read that correctly. Botox acts to ease the bladder muscles allowing for regular urinary function.
What can I expect after treatment?
Incontinence after care varies, depending on the treatment and the patient. InterStim therapy and Botox treatments both have very simple post-treatment guidelines that would be provided at the time of treatment.
If you’re experiencing urine incontinence symptoms, learn what treatments may be right for you. To book an appointment at Summit Women’s Health in Princeton, West Virginia, with Brandon M. Lingenfelter, DO, PhD; Megan Lingenfelter, PA; Sam Snyder, DO; or Valeah Bradshaw, NP, call us at (681) 282-5591 or use our scheduling portal.