Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence and the loss of bladder control can keep you from truly living, but the good news is that they’re very treatable conditions. Neeraj Kohli, MD, MBA of Boston Urogyn in Wellesley, Massachusetts, provides personalized care for urogynecological conditions like urinary incontinence. Don’t let bladder problems control your life: Call Boston Urogyn or schedule an appointment online to learn more today.

Urinary Incontinence Q & A

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary leaking of urine from the bladder. Although it’s a common problem, it ranges in severity.

In its mild forms, small amounts of urine leak when you laugh or sneeze. More extreme forms of urinary incontinence make it difficult to reach the bathroom in time.

There are also several types of incontinence, including:

  • Stress incontinence: urinary leakage resulting from pressure on the bladder like coughing or jogging.

  • Urge incontinence: difficulty reaching the bathroom in time and leakage occurs at the first urge to urinate.

  • Overactive bladder: an involuntary flexing of the bladder muscles that causes the urgent need to urinate.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is caused by physical issues or your lifestyle. Your risk of experiencing it increases when you gain weight, have neurological issues or diabetes, or have a family history of this condition. Your chances also increase as you age.

This condition is also more common in women than men. Furthermore, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or having a hysterectomy can increase a woman’s chances of developing urinary incontinence.

Other triggers that may cause temporary urinary incontinence -- regardless of your sex -- include:

  • Constipation

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Certain medications

  • Acidic, spicy, or sugary foods

  • Artificial sweeteners

How is urinary incontinence treated?

Dr. Kohli typically attempts to treat urinary incontinence with physical therapy first. These treatments include exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor, along with bladder training to reduce the severity of your incontinence.

If that doesn’t work, he moves on to minimally invasive solutions. For example, he might recommend a sling procedure to support the urethra. Dr. Kohli might also recommend bladder suspension procedures that support the tissues near the upper portion of the urethra and neck of the bladder.

We also have 2 other highly effective treatments:

If you’re looking for help with urinary incontinence, call Boston Urogyn or schedule an appointment online to learn more about the treatments Dr. Kohli has available.