Female Incontinence in North Easton, Massachusetts (MA)
Female urinary incontinence (UI) can be uncomfortable and sometimes
embarrassing, and as a result women often suffer for too long with this
highly treatable condition. There are a wide variety of effective
treatments available, which one your doctor recommends will depend on
the cause of your UI and the severity of your symptoms.
Diagnosing Female Urinary Incontinence
Treatment starts with identifying the type of female incontinence that you have. To diagnose your condition,
your doctor will take a thorough medical history and physical exam.
Sometimes keeping a voiding diary will help your doctor better define
your voiding issues. Your doctor may also recommend a urinalysis and
urine culture, a bladder stress test, an ultrasound, cystoscopy, or
urodynamics to evaluate the scope and type of UI you are experiencing.
Diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse is appropriate during the UI evaluation process as well.Treatments for Female Urinary Incontinence
There are many treatment options available to treat your UI:
Behavioral Treatments such as Kegel exercises can be very effective in building up strength in the muscles that help hold in urine. A voiding diary can help your doctor see patterns in your voiding behavior. Your doctor may also recommend scheduling times for urination (timed voiding)
in order to help you gain control of your bladder. Once you’ve gained
control of your bladder, you can extend the time needed between bathroom
trips. A reduction in liquid intake and caffeine can also reduce urine
output and help alleviate symptoms of UI.
Medication is prescribed according the type of UI you are experiencing. Women who experience overactive bladder may benefit from anticholinergic medications which help relax bladder muscles and prevent bladder spasms.
Biofeedback
helps women regain control of their bladder muscles by providing
feedback about their bladder activity. Feedback is generated using
electrodes to record when bladder and urethral muscles contract.
Biofeedback can be used in conjunction with Kegel exercises and
electrical stimulation to treat stress and urge incontinence.
A pessary device is
stiff ring which is inserted into the vagina and is used to reposition
the urethra. The pessary presses against the walls of the vagina which
increases pressure on the urethra, lessening the leakage associated with
stress incontinence.
Injections
of bulking materials which thicken the bladder neck may help close the
bladder opening and alleviate stress incontinence. It will take your
doctor about a half an hour to inject the bulking agents into tissues
around the bladder neck and urethra. Injections are administered under
local anesthesia.Urinary catheterization is a
procedure in which a urinary catheter (a thin tube) is inserted through
the urethra into the bladder to drain urine. Catheterization helps women
who are unable to empty their bladder due to muscle weakness, previous
surgery, or injury. Catheter can be left in place long-term, or
re-inserted four to six times a day.
Surgical Treatments for Female Incontinence
Some
women experience a shifting of their bladder out of its normal
position, especially after childbirth. Surgery can reposition the
bladder into a normal position and alleviate symptoms of UI.
Retropubic suspension
uses sutures (surgical threads) to support the bladder neck at a normal
position. The most common retropubic suspension procedure is the Burch colposuspension. To
perform the Burch colposuspension, your doctor accesses your pelvis
through an incision in your abdomen. Strong threads are secured to
strong ligaments within the pelvis, helping to reposition the bladder by
supporting the bladder neck.
Sling procedures
support the bladder at a normal position by cradling the bladder neck
with a “sling.” The surgeon inserts the sling through an incision
through the vagina. Traditional sling procedure uses a sling made from a
strip of your own tissue (fascia) or from man-made material. The sling
is attached to the pubic bone or just above the pubic bone.
A midurethral sling
is a newer procedure where the sling is attached midway along the
urethra. Your doctor makes a small incision in the vagina, as well as
small incisions behind the pubic bone or sides of the vaginal opening.
Using special needles to thread synthetic tape under the urethra, your
doctor will pull and adjust the tape through the incisions until the
right amount of support is generated.
Neuromodulation/InterStim
is used to stimulate the nerves from the spine to the bladder through
an FDA-approved device called InterStim. When urge incontinence does not
respond to behavioral treatments or medication, your doctor may
recommend this approach.
If you suffer from pelvic prolapse, your doctor may recommend prolapse repair surgery or a hysterectomy in addition to UI alleviating surgery.
Speak with your doctor about the best treatments to alleviate your urinary incontinence.
About James M. Fitzgerald, M.D.
Greater Boston Urology was founded in 2010 with a vision of bringing together many of the most sought after urology physicians and specialists in the nation to provide extraordinary urology care with the highest level of patient service.
With multiple locations across Massachusetts led by some of the best urology providers in the nation, our board certified physicians and physician assistants have years of experience and loyal patient communities. Our physicians come together on a regular basis to collaborate and ensure that our patients are receiving the highest quality care and services available nationwide.
Featured Specialist for Female Incontinence in North Easton, MA
James M. Fitzgerald, M.D.
Greater Boston Urology
Call Now: (508) 238-0800
31 Roche Brothers WayNorth Easton, MA 02356
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