Urinary Incontinence Q & A
What is Urinary Incontinence?
If you have urinary incontinence, you won’t be able to control the flow of urine normally. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may lose control of the flow of urine only temporarily, or it may happen all the time.
If your urinary incontinence is mild, you may have problems only when you cough or sneeze, for example. However, if the condition gets more severe, you may be unable to make it to the toilet in time on a regular basis.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence can have many different causes. If urinary incontinence is temporary, it may be related to an infection of the urinary tract, constipation, or another curable problem. Chronic urinary incontinence, on the other hand, often occurs because of changes in the pelvic floor muscles. Some of the risk factors for weak pelvic floor muscles include:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Menopause
- Increasing age
- Hysterectomy
You may also be more likely to experience urinary incontinence if you have an obstruction in the urinary tract or a neurological disorder.
How Does Dr. Ohanian Test for Urinary Incontinence?
In most cases, Dr. Ohanian can diagnose urinary incontinence based on your symptoms and your medical history. However, to give you the best treatment options, she’ll need to determine the cause of your incontinence. To determine the cause, she may:
- Perform a pelvic exam
- Perform a urinalysis
- Perform a post-void residual measurement
- Ask you to keep a bladder diary for several days
What Treatments are Available?
If your urinary incontinence is mild, you may be able to control it with lifestyle changes. For example, Dr. Ohanian may suggest that you avoid caffeine, go to the bathroom based on a set schedule, or practice double voiding. You may also benefit from bladder training, helps you strengthen your bladder and increase the amount of urine you can hold.
Also, many people with urinary incontinence benefit from doing pelvic floor exercises on a regular basis. These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor and help you improve control.
In cases where non-invasive treatments aren’t effective, you may need electrical stimulation, special medical devices, or surgery to improve your symptoms.