Urinary incontinence & overactive bladder

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Almost everyone has laughed so hard they leaked, but when it happens regularly, it can be a sign of a bigger issue. Frequent urination, loss of bladder control or sudden, extreme urges to go to the bathroom could point to urinary incontinence or overactive bladder.

Whether it’s an overactive bladder, urinary incontinence or fecal incontinence, our urogynecology team offers a variety of treatments to help stop the leaks and help you feel comfortable and in control again. Find a urogynecology specialist.

Types of incontinence

There are many kinds of incontinence, and symptoms and treatment vary with each. 

Urinary incontinence

  • Urinary stress incontinence: Urine leakage caused by coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending or lifting
  • Urinary urge incontinence: General increase in urinary urgency or frequency or an uncontrollable flow of urine
  • Urinary overflow incontinence: Extremely frequent urination and inability to completely empty the bladder
  • Mixed urinary incontinence: Some combination of symptoms from the other incontinence types

Fecal incontinence

  • Obstetrical anal sphincter injury (OASIS): The most common cause of fecal incontinence in women usually caused by trauma during natural childbirth
  • Rectovaginal fistulas: An abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina causing stool leakage because of injury during childbirth

Causes of incontinence

Overactive bladder can lead to urinary incontinence, and it’s important to seek treatment for bladder control issues early to help get you back on track.

Possible causes include:

  • High fluid intake
  • Certain foods or beverages
  • Certain medications
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Weakened pelvic floor muscles
  • Childbirth or pregnancy
  • Age
  • Menopause
  • Tumors or other obstruction
  • Select neurological disorders

Urinary incontinence diagnosis

Urinary incontinence can be diagnosed by performing urodynamic testing (urodynamics) to assess how well the bladder and urethra are storing and releasing urine.

Urodynamic testing involves a series of tests that reproduce bladder and voiding capabilities, evaluate the function of your bladder, urethra and urinary tract, and accurately identify and diagnose underlying bladder problems.

Other diagnostic overactive bladder or incontinence testing may include:

  • Cystoscopy, where a scope is used to look inside your bladder
  • Radiology/imaging scans
  • Endoscopic procedures of the bladder or bowel

Treatment for urinary incontinence

There’s no single incontinence or overactive bladder treatment that works for everyone. That’s why we offer medical and surgical treatment options tailored to you.

From medical management to pelvic floor physical therapy (to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles) to state-of-the-art urogynecologic surgery, we help you regain health, confidence, comfort and quality of life.

Nonsurgical treatments for urinary incontinence 

  • Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (Urgent® PC): This treatment stimulates your tibial nerves as well as the sacral nerves at the bottom of your spine, which can reduce overactive bladder.
  • Urethral bulking injections: Collagen or other synthetic materials are injected around the tube that lets urine out of your bladder (the urethra). This procedure seals the tube more tightly to prevent urine from leaking.
  • Botox® injections: Botox, which is a toxin that acts to relax muscles, is injected into the bladder muscle to help relieve symptoms of overactive bladder. Injections are done in the doctor's office.
  • Medication: There are a number of bladder control medicines in pill, liquid or patch form that can effectively treat certain types of urinary incontinence.
  • Medical devices: Self-catheterization with a straight catheter allows you to drain urine on your own when your bladder won’t empty completely by going to the bathroom.
  • Biofeedback: This therapy uses sensors to make you aware of signals from your body to help you regain control over your bladder and urethra muscles.

     

Surgical treatments for urinary incontinence

  • InterStim® therapy or sacral nerve stimulation: A neurotransmitter device placed under your skin gives mild electrical pulses that stimulate the nerve that controls the bladder and surrounding muscles. The stimulation reduces symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary retention.
  • Sling procedure: This procedure treats urinary stress incontinence – the most common form of urinary incontinence. The sling restores and supports the correct anatomical positioning of pelvic organs.
  • Vaginal surgery: The surgeon makes small incisions (similar to laparoscopy) into the vagina to perform urogynecologic procedures to treat incontinence.
  • Laparoscopic and robotic surgeryThese minimally invasive approaches offer faster healing and smaller scars.
  • Pelvic reconstructive surgery: This procedure can be used to treat pelvic floor dysfunction, which can cause incontinence.

For fecal or urinary incontinence, pelvic floor physical therapy – including pelvic floor muscle exercises – can be an effective treatment option to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. If effective, pelvic floor therapy can prevent the need for surgery.

Urinary incontinence and aging

Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone, but it’s more common in older people, especially women. In men, urinary continence is usually related to issues with the prostate gland. 

Some causes of urinary incontinence in older adults include:

  • Loss of elasticity in the bladder and pelvic floor muscles, reducing the amount of urine the bladder can hold
  • Arthritic or other pain that limits the ability to move quickly enough to get to the bathroom in time
  • Congestive heart failure and other conditions that cause excessive fluid buildup in the body
  • Deterioration in how the nerves and muscles signal the bladder, causing the need to urinate more often or unexpectedly 
  • The need to urinate more frequently during the night
  • Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease causing you to forget to go to the bathroom or where to find the toilet
  • Greater risk for urinary tract infections in women after menopause

Tips for managing urinary incontinence in older adults

  • Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and soda, which can increase urination.

  • Keep hallways and bathrooms well-lit and clutter-free to make it safer and easier to get to the bathroom during the night.

  • Use underwear that’s easy to get on and off.

  • Wear absorbent briefs when necessary to avoid soiling clothing.

  • Lose weight to increase your mobility and reduce pressure on your bladder.

  • Limit fluids before bedtime.

  • Avoid smoking, which can irritate the bladder.

Locations

Aurora Health Care offers overactive bladder and incontinence treatment in Milwaukee, Green Bay and throughout eastern Wisconsin. Call the location nearest you to set up an appointment today:

Aurora Medical Center West Allis
Aurora Women's Pavilion
8901 W. Lincoln Ave.
Suite 405
West Allis, WI 53227
414-329-5650

Aurora Medical Center – Grafton
Medical Office Building
975 Port Washington Rd.
Grafton, WI 53024
262-329-8100

Aurora Medical Center – Summit
Medical Office Building
36500 Aurora Dr.
Summit, WI 53066
262-434-5000

Aurora BayCare Medical Center
Women's Center
2845 Greenbrier Rd.
4th Floor
Green Bay, WI 54311
920-288-8510

Aurora Health Center
4202 W. Oakwood Park Ct.
Suite 200
Franklin, WI 53132
414-649-1280

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