Your risk of developing urinary incontinence increases as you get older, but you should never accept it as a normal part of aging. Instead, talk with the team at Heartfelt Obstetrics & Gynecology in Klamath Falls, Oregon, about the many treatments available to stop unwanted urine leakage. The team specializes in identifying the cause of your incontinence and implementing customized treatment that targets the problem. To learn more about treatment for urinary incontinence, call the office or request an appointment online today.
Urinary incontinence occurs when you uncontrollably leak urine. You may lose a small dribble of urine or empty your bladder before getting to the bathroom.
Incontinence arises from three causes. You may have overactive bladder muscles, nerve damage, or weak pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles include a group of muscles that support your bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum. They also control urination.
There are four primary types of urinary incontinence:
Stress incontinence occurs when pressure (stress) on your abdomen forces urine to leave the bladder. Then weak pelvic floor muscles allow the urine to leak out. Any activity that makes you contract your abdominal muscles may cause leakage, including laughing, sneezing, lifting, and coughing.
This type of incontinence develops when pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, and hormone changes at menopause weaken your pelvic floor muscles.
Urge incontinence, also called overactive bladder, occurs when your bladder muscles suddenly contract. This sudden need to urinate is so strong that you leak before you reach the bathroom. A bladder infection or nerve problems typically cause urge incontinence.
This type of incontinence develops when you still have urine in your bladder after urinating. As more urine enters the bladder, the leftover urine leaks out.
Mixed incontinence means you have stress and urge incontinence.
In addition to a physical exam, your Heartfelt Obstetrics & Gynecology provider may perform ultrasound imaging and urodynamic testing to determine the cause of your incontinence.
Urodynamic tests provide information such as your urine flow rate and the amount of urine in your bladder after urinating.
They recommend one of many possible treatments. A few examples include:
Heartfelt Obstetrics & Gynecology has extensive experience treating urinary incontinence.
Don’t wait to get help for urinary incontinence. Call Heartfelt Obstetrics & Gynecology or request an appointment online today.
