Urinary incontinence is a condition where you lose control of your bladder. And it’s a sad fact of life for the quarter to a third of men and women in the United States who are dealing with this condition, which can result in small leaks of urine or even not making it to the bathroom in time.
Urinary incontinence becomes more common as people age, but several factors can cause you to deal with it sooner. Whatever the reason, this condition can be managed and treated, so you don’t have to live with the frustration and embarrassment that comes with it.
Those in the Boston, Massachusetts, area looking for relief from urinary incontinence and other urological conditions can get help from Dr. Neeraj Kohli and the team at BostonUrogyn. We offer personalized care backed by state-of-the-art equipment to give you the best treatment available.
You can experience loss of bladder control, or incontinence, in different ways.
You may have urine leak out while performing some physical activity (stress), experience an overwhelming need to go (urge), be unable to completely empty your bladder (overflow), be physically unable to get to the bathroom (functional), or have a combination of issues (mixed).
These types of incontinence can be caused by a combination of factors:
Some food, drink, and medications act as diuretics, which stimulate your bladder and cause you to produce more urine.
Things like alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, sparkling water, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, heart and blood pressure medications, and large doses of vitamin C can lead to incontinence.
This condition may be the result of other problems, such as a urinary tract infection (which can irritate your bladder) or constipation (which can overstimulate the nerves in your bladder).
Changes that happen in your body during pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the muscles used for bladder control, but menopause, obstructions, and neurological problems can also cause problems that lead to problems with your bladder.
Weight, age, family history, and smoking are also risk factors that can lead to incontinence.
Treatments vary depending on age, incontinence type, and overall health. They include:
Anticholinergics, topical estrogen, and imipramine (Tofranil) can be used to treat incontinence combined with other methods.
Bladder training, double voiding, fluid and diet management, and scheduling bathroom trips can help stabilize your bladder.
The muscles used to control urination can be strengthened using Kegel exercises
Urethral inserts, pessaries, and sacral nerve stimulators can help control your urine output.
Surgical options include sling procedures to support the urethra, colposuspension to lift the bladder, or an artificial sphincter to control the flow of urine.
At BostonUrogyn, we start with physical therapy and behavioral methods before determining whether medications, devices, or surgeries are necessary. Methods may be used together to help achieve the best results to relieve your symptoms.
If you’re suffering from urinary incontinence, know that you don’t have to live with it. Make an appointment with Dr. Kohli and BostonUrogyn today by calling one of our Boston area locations, including Wellesley and South Weymouth, or booking your appointment online.
