Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence affects about twice as many women as men. Fortunately, a variety of conservative and surgical treatments are available. At Howard Center, we treat all types of urinary incontinence from our modern offices throughout Georgia. If you’re concerned about urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder, call the nearest office or request an appointment online today.

What is urinary incontinence?

Also known as the loss of bladder control, urinary incontinence is a common problem. Incontinence ranges in severity from occasionally leaking small amounts of urine when you cough or sneeze to having an overwhelming urge to urinate that’s so strong you can’t make it to the bathroom in time.

Urinary incontinence is more likely to affect older women, but it can occur at any age. Changes in your body after pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can contribute to incontinence, but that doesn’t mean it’s an inevitable part of growing older. If incontinence affects your normal activities, our team at Howard Center can help.

What are the types of urinary incontinence?

There are many types of urinary incontinence. Stress and urge incontinence are the most common to affect women.

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence happens when pressure on your bladder causes urine to leak. That can happen when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise.

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence involves a strong, sudden need to urinate that causes urine to leak before you can get to a bathroom. Urge incontinence is sometimes known as an overactive bladder because it causes you to urinate more often, even throughout the night.

Conditions like diabetes, an infection, and neurological disorders can cause urge incontinence.

Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence is when urine leaks frequently or constantly because your bladder doesn’t empty all the way.

Functional incontinence

Functional incontinence involves a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from getting to the toilet in time. For example, mobility issues due to arthritis can cause functional incontinence.

Mixed incontinence

Mixed incontinence involves more than one type, usually a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

How is urinary incontinence diagnosed and treated?

At The Howard Center, we use urodynamics testing to find the source of your urinary incontinence. This test involves filling your bladder and then measuring the pressure while it empties.

After we determine the cause of your incontinence, your provider at Howard Center creates an individualized treatment plan. If an underlying condition, such as an infection, is the cause, treatment begins with addressing that issue.

Other treatments for urinary incontinence include behavioral techniques like bladder training, pelvic floor muscle exercises, also known as Kegels, and various medications.

If these treatments aren’t effective, your provider may recommend a device, such as a pessary, or surgical procedure like tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) using the transvaginal sling by Boston Scientific.

For relief from urinary incontinence, call Howard Center today or request an appointment online.