Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence Q & A

What causes urinary incontinence?

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.

What are the different types of urinary incontinence?

There are four primary types of urinary incontinence:

Stress 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

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.

Overflow 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

Mixed incontinence means you have stress and urge incontinence.

How is urinary incontinence diagnosed and treated?

In addition to a physical exam, your Heartfelt Obstetrics And 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:

• Pelvic floor therapy
• Bladder training
• Slings
• Medications
• Medical devices that block urine flow
• Peripheral tibial nerve stimulation
• Urethral bulking injections
• Botox® injections
• Radiofrequency treatment

Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology has extensive experience treating urinary incontinence.

Don’t wait to get help for urinary incontinence. Call Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology or request an appointment online today.