Frequently Asked Questions
What causes urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means that you involuntarily leak urine, or develop an urge to “go” that comes on so strong and quick, you can’t make it to the bathroom in time and you have an accident. In any case, common causes, triggers, and risk factors for urinary incontinence include:
- Medications, especially hypertension or muscle relaxant drugs
- Excessive caffeine consumption
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Spicy or acidic foods
- Artificial sweeteners
- Hysterectomy
- Menopause
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
No matter what’s causing your case of incontinence, having plenty of treatment options means it’s not a condition you’re resigned to having to live with.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
When you come to The Woman’s Center for your urinary incontinence evaluation, your dedicated physician spends time talking with you about your symptoms.
To help get to the root of why you have incontinence issues and determine the best course of treatment, your urogynecologist may recommend any of the following screenings and tests:
- Post-void residual measurement
- Urodynamic testing
- Cystoscopy
- Urinalysis
If you’re also struggling with fecal incontinence and have difficulty controlling your bowels, your physician could recommend an anorectal manometry or endoanal ultrasound to diagnose the cause of bowel issues.
Can I get treatment for urinary incontinence?
Yes! The dedicated women’s health practitioners at The Woman’s Center are diligent about getting to the root of your incontinence and helping you find an effective treatment. Your urinary incontinence treatment plan may include:
- Pessary
- Kegel exercises
- Bladder retraining
- Antibiotic medications
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Cystoscopic Botox® injections
- Periurethral collagen injections
- Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
- Sacral neuromodulation (Interstim)
For more advanced cases of urinary incontinence, your urogynecologist at The Woman’s Center could recommend surgery.
They can use minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic procedures to place a pelvic or mid-urethral sling, implant tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), or make any corrections to treat the underlying cause of your case of incontinence.
For further reference throughout your treatment plan from The Woman’s Center, you can click on the detailed urinary incontinence e-book written by Dr. Stratford. This easy-to-read e-book is filled with information to help you learn to cope with urinary incontinence, dietary changes to consider, and lifestyle changes you can make to minimize urinary incontinence symptoms.
Schedule your incontinence evaluation at The Woman’s Center directly through the website today. You can also call to speak with a team member.
