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Indiana OB/GYN Specialists - Urinary Incontinence
As women age and go through different life experiences such as childbirth or menopause, the body can change – sometimes in ways we least expect. One of those issues, urinary incontinence, is a surprisingly common occurrence. Our Indiana OB/GYN physicians at Women's Health Specialists perform a test called Urodynamics, which tests bladder function. This test measures the pressure and volume of fluid in the bladder during filling, storage and voiding, which can help us select the best bladder treatment to resolve urinary control issues.
Urinary incontinence typically happens when a woman coughs, sneezes, exercises or lifts heavy objects and should not be considered a normal part of aging. For some women this issue is a minor inconvenience that happens infrequently. For some however, it is severe enough to negatively affect day-to-day life. Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options available through your gynecologist in Northwest Indiana.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
There are four types of urinary incontinence most common in women:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) – The involuntary release or leakage of urine during sudden movements such as coughing or laughing.
- Urge Incontinence (also referred to as overactive bladder) – The sudden intense urge to urinate, followed by bladder leakage. You may feel like you never get to the bathroom fast enough or you may awaken several times a night with a strong urge to urinate.
- Mixed Incontinence – A combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow Incontinence – Occurs when the bladder doesn't completely empty due to dysfunctional nerves or a blockage in the urethra that prevents urine to flow freely.
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence affects women of all ages and is very common among women. In fact, studies show that 1 in 3 women suffer from SUI and many of them recall it beginning after childbirth. In SUI, sudden movements such as laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy, puts stress on the bladder and causes urine to leak out involuntarily. SUI can be caused by pregnancy and childbirth, frequent heavy lifting, estrogen deficiency, menopause or obesity.
Our Indiana OB/GYN physicians are experts in one of the bladder treatments used to treat stress urinary incontinence. In this minimally invasive procedure, our board certified physicians apply a ribbon-like mesh strip to support the urethra. Typically the urethra is supported by the pelvic floor muscles to prevent urine leakage, however in women with stress urinary incontinence, the pelvic floor muscles and connecting tissues have weakened and can't support the urethra in its normal position. The mesh strip our doctors apply act as a supportive sling that allows the urethra to stay closed to prevent bladder leakage. The short procedure provides extremely effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence and most of our patients experience immediate and long-lasting results.
A urinary incontinence consultation can determine if you are an appropriate candidate for this procedure. If you would like to learn more about urinary incontinence, or schedule an appointment, please call 219-934-2400 or click on the location nearest you in the right column.
