Urinary incontinence is a loss or leakage of urine from the bladder, a round organ surrounded by a muscle layer that is in the pelvis just below the pubic bone and just above the uterus. It can happen at any time, but most commonly occurs with stress on the bladder (coughing, sneezing, exercise) called stress incontinence, or urgency generated by unexpected squeezing of the bladder muscle called urge Incontinence. Some women have one type of incontinence or can have a combination of both types.
Treatments for stress incontinence include:
- Pelvic floor exercises or physical therapy
- Poise Impreza, a tampon like device placed and easily removed, to decrease urine loss for short periods of time.
- A pessary which is typically a rubber-like ring placed in the vagina to hold up the bladder and decrease urine loss and left for extended periods of time
- Surgery to lift the part of the bladder where the urine loss occurs and stop leakage. This is called a urethral sling procedure.
Treatments for urge incontinence include:
- Screening for bladder infection
- Avoiding caffeine and other substances that may be irritating the bladder
- Pelvic floor exercise or physical therapy
- Medication taken daily
- Injection of Botox into the bladder wall
Some cases of incontinence may also require evaluation by a urologist or urogynecologist and should be discussed with your gynecologist .