Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence Accent Image
Urinary incontinence is a common condition that often goes unacknowledged. If you struggle with bladder control, you should know that there are safe and effective treatments available at Unified Premier Women’s Care in Marietta, Georgia. There’s no need to let urinary incontinence control your daily routines, so book an appointment today to begin exploring treatment paths. You can schedule your visit by calling and speaking with a team member to set up an appointment time.
(770) 427-0285

Urinary Incontinence Q & A

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a loss of bladder control. This condition can happen to women of any age, but your risk increases as you grow older. More than four out of every 10 women over the age of 65 will experience some form of urinary incontinence.

Are there different types of urinary incontinence?

There are several different types of urinary incontinence. The following two types most commonly affect women.

Stress incontinence

This type occurs when something places pressure on your bladder. That stress can happen during pregnancy, childbirth, or as a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles. Women with stress incontinence often leak urine when sneezing, laughing, coughing, or during sudden movements.

Urge incontinence

This type creates a strong, nearly undeniable need to use the bathroom, and leaking if you can’t access a bathroom in time. Ironically, many women aren’t able to release much urine once they do reach a bathroom, yet experience urges multiple times a day. Urge incontinence is also referred to as “overactive bladder.”

What causes urinary incontinence?

Pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of urinary incontinence in women. Additional causal factors include:

  • Excess body weight
  • Nerve damage
  • Chronic constipation
  • Surgical procedures
  • Certain medications
  • Infections
  • High caffeine consumption

In some cases, there’s no clear indication of what causes incontinence.

What treatment options are available for urinary incontinence?

Never before have women had so many options when it comes to treating incontinence. Your gynecologist works with you to determine which approach or combination of therapies to try first.

Pelvic floor therapy

This approach involves learning and performing a series of exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. That gives you better control over your bladder and also helps reduce nighttime leakage, improve painful intercourse, and relieve constipation.

Medication

Medications and hormone therapy can also help treat urinary incontinence. Prescription medication carries the risk of side effects, and your gynecologist will discuss those risks with you prior to choosing a treatment path.

Targeted energy stimulation

This approach is also a good treatment option for incontinence. Unified Premier Women’s Care uses ThermiVa® to deliver radiofrequency energy to your vaginal walls, stimulating new collagen growth and enabling better bladder control.

Some women require surgery to correct urinary incontinence. Laparoscopic procedures can repair damaged or weakened organs and restore healthy urinary function.

If you’re living with frequent urinary leakage or inconvenient urge incontinence, call Unified Premier Women’s Care to begin your treatment path.