Urologist Provide Treatment Options for Incontinence

Causes of Incontinence The first step in treating incontinence will be determining the cause. For women, childbirth and pregnancy is a very common cause of this condition. It can also be caused by certain medications. Some individuals, both male and female, struggle with incontinence due to birth defects. Weakness in the bladder or pelvic floor muscles can also lead to failure of the bladder. Nerve disorders and spinal cord injuries can also be a cause. The condition is far more prevalent in women than men, but both can have it. Your urologist will take a detailed medical history when you first visit the clinic to help determine what could be the cause of your condition. Please be prepared to answer many questions about your medical history. Treatment Options If you suffer from stress incontinence, which is bladder leakage that occurs with abdominal pressure, such as when you sneeze or laugh, your urologist has several treatments to consider. Sometimes, surgery can improve the condition by repositioning the bladder or building a sling to relieve some of the pressure. Sometimes the condition can be treated through physical therapy to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which then hold the urine in better. If the condition is caused by a dysfunctional urethra, it can be treated through the injection of bulking agents. Urge incontinence, or the sudden loss of urine combined with an urgent need to void is often treated with medication. When medication does not work, surgical treatments may bring relief. A urologist can also help a patient with bladder training through timed voiding. Electrical stimulation has also shown some promise as a treatment for urge incontinence. One of the more difficult forms of incontinence to treat is overflow incontinence. This type of incontinence involved an almost constant dribbling of urine. If this is your condition, your urologist will help you control it through medication and self-catheterization. Finding a Doctor If you struggle with urinary incontinence, help is available. You need to find a urologist who is very skilled at treating incontinence. Because you may feel uncomfortable discussing your condition with friends or family to seek a reference, use online review sites to help you find a skilled doctor with whom you will feel comfortable discussing this potentially embarrassing condition. Meet with the doctor to learn about his or her approach to treating incontinence and figure out if you feel comfortable talking to the doctor. Feeling comfortable with the doctor is essential to ensuring that you get the best possible treatment. Once you find a doctor with a good reputation who you also feel comfortable with, you will be well on your way to finding a treatment for the embarrassing condition of incontinence.