What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is a common condition that affects about twice as many women as men. As one of Oklahoma’s most experienced urologists, Dr. Parkhurst treats all types of incontinence, including:
Stress incontinence
Stress incontinence causes urine to leak when there’s increased pressure on your bladder. This may cause urine leakage during everyday activities like running, laughing, or sneezing. Stress incontinence is the most common type to affect women, especially those who have given birth vaginally.
Urge incontinence
Urge incontinence involves a sudden, overwhelming need to urinate that may lead to urine leakage if you can’t get to a restroom in time. This type may cause you to urinate more often, even throughout the night.
Mixed incontinence
Mixed incontinence happens when you experience symptoms of stress and urge incontinence at the same time.
Overflow incontinence
Overflow incontinence happens when your bladder doesn’t empty completely and causes urine to leak. As a result, you may experience symptoms of stress or urge incontinence or both.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Many things can lead to temporary urinary incontinence, such as drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Urinary incontinence that persists for a long time is usually due to weak or damaged pelvic muscles.
Several conditions can affect the muscles and nerves that control the flow of urine, such as:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Hormonal changes after menopause
- Prostate problems, such as cancer
- Age-related changes in your bladder
- Neurological conditions, such as stroke
Being overweight can put extra pressure on your bladder and increase your risk of urinary incontinence.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed and treated?
Urinary incontinence can be embarrassing to talk about, but Dr. Parkhurst is a professional urologist who has helped many people find relief from this condition. He starts with a thorough review of your medical history and performs a physical exam to determine the underlying cause of your incontinence.
Dr. Parkhurst may ask you to keep a bladder diary that includes how much you drink and urinate. He may also perform urodynamic testing to measure how much your bladder can hold.
Then, Dr. Parkhurst creates an individualized treatment plan that may include:
- Lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels)
- BTL Emsella electromagnetic chair
- Medications
To learn more about your options for urinary incontinence treatment, call Joseph D. Parkhurst, MD, FACS, or book online today.
