What is Urinary Incontinence?

Almost 20 million women this country are affected by uncontrollable urinary leakage.  This results in health care costs of almost $30 billion annually. In addition to the embarrassment which often forces women into greater degrees of inactivity, incontinence is one of the three leading causes for elderly women to be admitted to nursing homes.

Causes For Incontinence

The two most commonly seen are referred to as stress and urge incontinence.  Stress incontinence results from a faulty closure mechanism resulting in sudden spurts of urine loss accompanying an impulsive increase in abdominal pressure such as occurs with coughing or sneezing.  Urge incontinence occurs when bladder muscle contractions cannot be suppressed and results in leakage which for shortly after a strong sensation of the urge to void due to the inability to get to the bathroom in time.  Other less common causes are related to neurological disease, diabetes trauma medications and congenital defects.

Millions of women have the same problem.

Much has been learned about the causes and cures of urinary incontinence.  Many women today have grown up in the presence of family members who have developed incontinence and have been told that hiss is the price one pays for having children.  many of the women withdraw progressively further from any social involvement in order to avoid the stigma and embarrassment caused by the incontinence.  Fortunately, women can be cured of this problem.  very effective nonsurgical treatments include medications. exercise, and behavior modification.  Surgical treatments designed to restore support to the base of the bladder can now often be done with the laparoscope using "belly-button" surgery techniques.  This enables many of these procedures to be performed in outpatient or overnight - stay settings.  In order to maintain optimal health in older age, it is very important to stay physically active.  No one should be forced into inactivity because of urinary incontinence.

The First Step

If you have urinary incontinence or know a friend or loved one who suffers from this problem, please consider contacting our Bladder Control Clinic at (251) 633-0793 to make an appointment for a consultation or return the enclosed card to obtain more information.

There's treatment that works.

Points To Remember

• Urinary incontinence is common in women.
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• Urinary Incontinence problems do not have to be part of aging.
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• All types of urinary incontinence can be treated.
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• You need not be embarrassed by incontinence.
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• Ask your doctor for help.