Incontinence Center

Incontinence Center

Have you given up activities you enjoy because you're afraid of an accident?
Does being too far away from a restroom make you nervous?
Do you hate spending a fortune on diapers or pads, not to mention wearing them, but don't know what else to do?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, you may be suffering from urinary incontinence, or the inability to control storage or release of urine. Incontinence can rob you of sleep and leave you exhausted, make travel uncomfortable or troublesome, or keep the joys and benefits of physical activity out of reach.
There are several types of incontinence and it can have many causes. Fortunately, incontinence can often be treated, or even cured, easily. To find out more, go to Frequently Asked Questions or links to some health information Web sites. Also, be sure to take the quiz.
What type of incontinence do your symptoms indicate?
The successful treatment of incontinence begins with an accurate diagnosis. During your appointment at Northwest Urology Center, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and history with you to identify the type of incontinence you may have: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, or a mixed condition. The questions he may ask are similar to the following. Click on the buttons at the left of the statements that apply to you. When you are finished, click on Submit for a possible diagnosis.

Take the Quiz to Learn About Types of Incontinence
Do you:
1. Leak urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh?
 Yes  No
2. Go the bathroom more frequently in order to avoid accidents?
 Yes  No
3. Avoid exercise because you're afraid of leaks?
 Yes  No
4. Sleep through the night, but leak upon getting up from bed in the morning?
 Yes  No
5. Leak when you get up from a chair?
 Yes  No
6. Wet yourself if you don't get to the bathroom immediately
 Yes  No
 7. Go to the bathroom at least every two hours?
 Yes  No
8. Wet the bed at night?
 Yes  No
9. Feel that you have a weak bladder and that each drink of coffee, cola, or water seems to cause urination out of proportion to the amount you actually drink?
 Yes  No
10. Get up frequently during the night to urinate?
 Yes  No
11. Take a long
 time to urinate and have a weak, dribbling stream with no force?
 Yes  No
12. Urinate small amounts and not feel completely empty afterward?
 Yes  No
13. Dribble urine throughout the day?
 Yes  No
14. Feel the urge to urinate, but sometimes can't?
 Yes  No


Types of Incontinence
The symptoms you checked may indicate mixed incontinence -- a combination of the following types.
Stress Incontinence - this condition occurs when pelvic floor muscles have become weak and pelvic organs slip down (prolapse). As a result the bladder neck is not in the correct position and activity can increase pressure on the bladder, causing it to open.
Urge Incontinence - the sudden need to urinate that is so urgent it can't be controlled. This may be associated with spasm of the bladder muscle, due to hormonal changes, surgery, back problems, or infection.
Overflow Incontinence - occurs when the bladder fails to empty completely due to obstruction. The bladder stays full, and constant pressure on the bladder neck results in the loss of small amounts of urine.


Since there are different types, degrees, and combinations of incontinence, the Northwest Urology Center recommends a thorough evaluation by our urology specialists to determine the cause of your individual condition. However, some of more common causes of incontinence are:
•Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles
•Neurological disorders
•Bladder abnormalities
•Scar tissue
•Prolapsed organs
•Swelling from pelvic surgery or childbirth
•Medications
•Diabetes
•Hormonal changes

What tests might Northwest Urology Center suggest to diagnosis an incontinence problem?
Your doctor will thoroughly evaluate your situation. He will take a medical history, conduct a physical screening that includes a pelvic exam and a rectal exam. He may also order certain tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include taking a urine sample, measuring your flow, examining the inside of your bladder, or x-rays. Tests can help pinpoint the cause so correct, effective treatment can be prescribed.
Treatment Options
Once your doctor has made a diagnosis, he will work with you to find the treatment that is best for you. Depending on your diagnosis, treatment might include:
•Dietary changes
Bladder training 
•Muscle exercises
•Biofeedback
•Vaginal weights
•Electrical stimulation
Bulking agents
•Collagen
Medications
•Estrogen replacement
•Antibiotics
Surgery
•Muscle adjustment
•Electrical implant
Say No to Diapers
Diapers and pads are not a solution to incontinence. You don't have to live with the problem. And remember, you are not alone. Contact Northwest Urology Center today.


•Although it is typically age-related, incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine) is not, as commonly believed, an inevitable consequence of aging. The condition often reflects an underlying disorder and is usually treatable, even in the elderly.
•As many as 13 million people (85 percent of them women) sometimes lose control of their bladder.
•Only 25% of those who suffer from incontinence ever ask their doctors for help, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
•Many studies indicate that treatment can cure or improve the condition in at least 80 percent of cases.
•Women are more prone to the condition than men, in part because they have a pelvic floor (a group of tissues and muscles) that weakens and sags with age or after childbirth, making leakage more likely.
•The disorder is thought to affect nearly a third of all individuals over the age of 65.
•Prior to age 65, women experience three to five times more incontinence than men. After age 65, men and women have an equal chance of being incontinent.
•For many women (one in three), urinary incontinence comes along with pregnancy and is temporary. For others (one in ten), it remains a problem.
•Studies have shown that the more vaginal births a woman has had, the more likely she is to leak urine while exercising. Exercises involving repetitive bouncing have been associated with the highest incidence of incontinence.
•Incontinence is a potential side effect of many diuretics, sedatives, antidepressants, antihistamines, and other medications. Sometimes curing the condition can be as simple as switching to a different drug. Talk to your doctor.


1. What tests might my doctor suggest to diagnose an incontinence problem?
Your doctor will thoroughly evaluate your situation. He will take a medical history, conduct a physical screening that includes a pelvic exam and a rectal exam. He may also order certain tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include taking a urine sample, measuring your flow, examining the inside of your bladder, or x-rays. Tests can help pinpoint the cause so correct, effective treatment can be prescribed.
2. What can I do to help myself stay in control?
•Try to keep your weight down. Excess body weight puts pressure on your bladder muscles, weakening them.
•The straining that accompanies constipation can also weaken bladder muscles. Avoid constipation by increasing the amount of fiber in your diet; eat more whole-grain foods and fruits and vegetables.
•Avoid alcohol, caffeine, sugar, spicy foods, and acidic fruits and juices, all of which can irritate the bladder and trigger leaks.
•Don't smoke. Nicotine can irritate your bladder.
•Do Kegel exercises daily.
•Retrain yourself to urinate at longer intervals.
•Aim for three to six hours between trips to the bathroom.
•Double void: After urinating, wait a few seconds, then try again. If you are a woman with stress incontinence, try crossing your legs when sneezing or coughing. A recent study showed that this simple practice can be very effective in stopping leakage.
3. Why does menopause affect incontinence?
After menopause, falling levels of the hormone estrogen cause the tissues of the urinary tract system to thin, which may weaken the pelvic floor, leading to incontinence. Many women also experience reduced sphincter muscle strength due to a decrease in estrogen following menopause. Reduced estrogen can also cause tissues lining the urethra to thin, reducing bladder support.
4. What are Kegel exercises and how do they help?
Kegels are pelvic floor muscle exercises. The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for providing support to the bladder, urethra, bowel, and vagina and uterus in woman. By learning to squeeze these muscles you can control the sphincter muscle, which is responsible for releasing urine into the urethra and out of the body.
In order for these exercises to be effective, you must locate the proper muscles. During urination, try to stop the flow of urine. If you can do this, then you have used your pelvic floor muscles. A 1998 report in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology concludes that women who regularly performed Kegel exercises, consisting of voluntarily contracting the pelvic muscles 30 times each day, had a risk of developing incontinence after giving birth four times lower than women who did not perform the exercises. The benefits of the exercises are most likely due to the quicker recovery of pelvic floor strength following childbirth.