When a person experiences an involuntary loss of urine, it is called urinary
incontinence (UI). This condition can occur for a number of reasons such
as coughing, sneezing, sexual activity, or due to total loss of control.
Compared to men, women are twice as likely to experience UI. West Jefferson
Medical Center Urology takes care to help our patients understand their
condition and make informed decisions regarding the right treatments.
What is urinary incontinence?
As a person grows older, their muscles weaken, including those of the bladder
and the urethra. This means that when pressure from urine pushes against
the openings in the urinary system, urine is more likely to leak out uncontrollably.
UI can be caused by:
Aging
Brain injury
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Birth defects
Childbirth
Menopause
Coughing, sneezing, and laughing
Diagnosis & treatment of UI
To learn more about your condition, physicians will go over the patient’s
medical history to look for any obvious clues. They may also have the
patient keep a diary of how often they are urinating. After reviewing
any patterns, the doctor will perform a physical examination to assess
bladder control.
Other physical tests could include:
Bladder test – Checks for incontinence during activities like coughing, sneezing,
or laughing
Urinalysis – Chemical analysis to detect excess materials that suggest urinary
health problems
Imaging via ultrasound – Uses sound waves to create an image of the internal urological organs
Cystoscopy – Camera inspection that enters from the urethra opening
Urodynamics – Tests the pressure in the bladder and from the urine flow
As many problems leading to UI are muscle-related, many treatment plans
will focus on muscle growth and control, such as learning Kegel exercises
which are geared toward regaining control of muscles inside the vagina.
Other treatment options could include:
Starting new medication or stopping an existing prescription
Injections that firm up bladder control muscles
Biofeedback that teaches patients where their control problems lie
Surgery
Lifestyle changes such as exercising more, stopping smoking, and reducing
alcohol and coffee intake
Mid-urethral sling
Urethral Bulking Agent (Coaptite injection)
Botox
Urgent PC Neuromodulation
InterStim
If you have further questions about urinary incontinence or another urological
concern, speak with our clinic by calling
504.276.2072.
