Urinary Incontinence Specialist

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence refers to leaking urine, whether you accidentally release a small amount or uncontrollably empty your bladder. Incontinence develops when you have overactive bladder muscles, nerve damage, or weak pelvic floor muscles.

The pelvic floor muscles include a group of muscles that hold your vagina, uterus, and bladder in place. They also allow you to control the release of urine. 

Incontinence develops when the muscles stretch and weaken due to pregnancy, delivery, hormone changes at menopause, and natural muscle loss and weakness as you get older.

What type of urinary incontinence might I develop?

You may develop one of several types of urinary incontinence, including:

Stress incontinence

If pressure on your abdomen causes urine leakage, you have stress incontinence. Weak pelvic floor muscles let urine leak out when your tummy muscles tighten or you cough, sneeze, laugh, or lift a heavy object.

Urge incontinence (overactive bladder)

Urge incontinence develops when a sudden uncontrollable need to urinate leads to leaking. In many cases, you may have such a strong urge that you can't make it to the bathroom in time.

Hormonal changes, urinary tract infections, diabetes, and nerve problems cause many cases of urge incontinence.

Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence occurs when your bladder contains too much urine. As a result, urine leaks out. This type of incontinence usually develops when you have weak bladder muscles, a blockage like bladder stones, or nerve damage.

How is urinary incontinence diagnosed and treated?

In addition to reviewing your symptoms and completing an exam, your provider may perform a urinalysis or ultrasound imaging. They also run urodynamic testing.

Urodynamic testing includes a group of tests that provide information about issues, such as your urine flow rate, the amount of urine in your bladder after urinating, and how well you can start and stop urinating. The tests you have depend on your symptoms.

After your provider determines the cause of your incontinence, they develop a customized treatment plan that includes therapies such as:

• Pelvic floor exercises
• Bladder training
• Medications
• Urethral bulking injections
• Botox® injections
• Radiofrequency treatment
• Nerve stimulation

Most women improve with these treatments, but if you don't, your provider may recommend surgery such as a sling procedure to reinforce the pelvic floor muscles.

If you need expert care for urinary incontinence, call Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology or book an appointment online today.