What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence occurs when you unintentionally leak urine. It might happen because of pregnancy, surgery, vaginal delivery, an injury, or radiation treatment.
The Advanced Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLC team helps determine the type of incontinence you have and offers you symptom relief.
What are the different types of urinary incontinence?
If you experience urinary incontinence, it could be one of the following types:
- Urge incontinence: a sudden urge to urinate and urine leaks without warning
- Stress incontinence: urine leaks with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jumping
- Overflow incontinence: urine leaks that happen after emptying your bladder
- Mixed incontinence: more than one type of incontinence
Urine leaks can be embarrassing and reduce your quality of life, which is why many women seek treatment for relief.
What are the risk factors for urinary incontinence?
Women are more likely to experience certain types of urinary incontinence, including stress incontinence. Other risk factors for urinary incontinence include:
- Older age
- Family history of urinary incontinence
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Diabetes
- Neurological diseases
Maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and regular exercise helps reduce your risk of urinary incontinence. But regardless of the risk factors, anybody can develop it.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
To diagnose urinary incontinence, your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history. They may ask you to complete specific exercises, a urine sample, bladder function tests, or keep a bladder diary.
In some cases, your OB/GYN specialist might recommend an ultrasound to better view your bladder and supporting tissues.
How is urinary incontinence treated?
Your OB/GYN provider personalizes each urinary incontinence treatment based on the type you have, its severity, and your preferences. They may recommend:
- Bladder training exercises
- Medications
- Electrical stimulation
- Medical device inserts
- Minimally invasive procedures
- Injections
- Nerve stimulators
- MonaLisa Touch®
MonaLisa Touch uses noninvasive laser technology to stimulate collagen production and reduce urinary incontinence without surgery or downtime. Your provider uses a hand-held device to emit laser energy to vaginal tissues.
Don’t live with urinary incontinence when a wide array of treatment options are available at Advanced Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLC. Book an appointment by phone or online today to find out which solution is right for you.
