Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence Accent Image

Incontinence

Roughly one-third of women between the ages of 30 and 60 live with urinary incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of urine. But you don’t have to go through your days worried about having an accident. At The Center for Women’s Health in Newport News, Virginia, the board-certified OB/GYNs offer incontinence treatment. To get your bladder back under control, call the nearest office or make an appointment online today.

Incontinence Q & A

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a symptom of a wide range of health issues that causes you to lose control of your bladder, resulting in urine leaking out. This can mean a small amount of urine loss or a complete voiding of your bladder.

You might experience temporary urinary incontinence or an isolated urine leakage incident after drinking too much coffee or while experiencing a urinary tract infection (UTI).

If you regularly worry about your bladder control, don’t hesitate to get in touch with The Center for Women’s Health. They can identify what type of urinary incontinence you have and help you get effective treatment.

What are the different types of urinary incontinence?

Two types of urinary incontinence most commonly affect women:

Urge Urinary Incontinence

When you live with urge urinary incontinence, you feel a sudden, intense need to use the restroom, often followed by urine leakage. People living with urge incontinence often feel stressed when they can’t quickly access a bathroom, like during meetings or long car trips.

Urge incontinence is often caused by other medical conditions like infections, cystitis, or diabetes.

Stress Urinary Incontinence

If you experience urine leakage when your bladder is under pressure, you likely have stress urinary incontinence. This type of incontinence most commonly occurs when you:

  • Cough
  • Laugh
  • Sneeze
  • Lift something heavy

Stress incontinence often occurs because your urethra doesn’t seal shut properly, allowing urine to escape when pressure is applied to your bladder. This is especially common after childbirth or menopause.

How is urinary incontinence treated?

Decreasing your fluid intake won’t treat urinary incontinence. You’ll need a personalized treatment plan based on the type and severity of incontinence affecting you. The Center for Women’s Health explores your treatment options with you. These range from lifestyle changes like losing weight to medication to surgery. Treating your urinary incontinence might be easier than you think. Mild to moderate stress incontinence can often be alleviated with pelvic floor exercises and bladder training. For an accurate diagnosis and more about your urinary incontinence treatment options, call The Center for Women’s Health or book an appointment online today.