Urinary Incontinence

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be a stand-alone complication or a symptom of another condition. It causes you to have trouble holding in your urine. You might occasionally leak urine, or you might have trouble making it to the bathroom in time to empty your bladder into a toilet.

There are several types of urinary incontinence. Dr. Khamvongsa evaluates your symptoms to determine which type you have and to plan an effective treatment. You might have:

Urge incontinence

If you have urge incontinence, you might experience a strong urge to urinate with no time to make it to the restroom. It can also cause you to need to urinate frequently throughout your day. 

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence causes you to urinate a bit each time you cough, laugh, sneeze, or exert any other pressure on the muscles near your bladder.

Functional incontinence

Functional incontinence comes from a mental or physical condition that renders you unable to successfully reach a toilet to urinate. For example, if you have limited mobility because of a degenerative condition, you might struggle to prepare to urinate before you do. 

Overflow incontinence

If you have overflow incontinence, your bladder doesn’t empty in its entirety when you urinate. The lingering urine in your bladder may dribble or leak out frequently.

Mixed incontinence 

Mixed incontinence involves a combination of two or more other types of urinary incontinence.

What causes urinary incontinence?

There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence. Some of the most common factors cause you to experience short-term urinary incontinence, like diuretic medications, alcohol, or carbonated drinks. You can also experience short-term urinary incontinence because of a highly treatable medical condition like a urinary tract infection. 

Persistent urinary incontinence comes from long-term physical conditions or age-related changes, including:

• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Childbirth
• Hysterectomy
• Neurological disorders (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)
• Tumors along the urinary tract
• Menopause
• General aging

Women are much more likely to experience urinary incontinence than men. You should contact Dr. Khamvongsa for an evaluation and treatment if you experience persistent urinary incontinence that affects your day-to-day life.

What’s the treatment for urinary incontinence?

Dr. Khamvongsa offers a number of clinical treatments to help you hold in your urine successfully. He creates a personalized treatment plan for your specific type of urinary incontinence, accounting for your preferences and personal needs. It might include:

• Dietary adjustments
• Pelvic floor muscle exercises
• Electrical stimulation
• Estrogen therapy
• Medications
• Urethral inserts
• Botulinum toxin injections
• Surgery (sling placement, prolapse surgery)
• Catheter