Bladder Health

Finding More Help


How is Incontinence Treated?

If you need or want more help, ask your primary health care provider about referring you to specialists like Urogynecologists or a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists (PTs). Urogynecologists are Gynecologists or Urologists who undergo fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine, where they spend several years focusing only on disorders like incontinence and prolapse. Pelvic Floor PTs are physical therapists who have advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Incontinence is a treatable condition! But remaining quiet is not on the list of effective remedies. Ask your healthcare provider about managing your incontinence with one, or a combination of, the following methods.

Behavioral

Pelvic floor muscle training including:

  • biofeedback
  • muscle training
  • neuromuscular re-education

Surgical

When diet and exercise alone don’t provide relief, there are a number of surgical options, including:

A less invasive option for women with Stress UI, there is a procedure called urethral bulking in which a Urogynecologist injects collagen, or other bulking materials, around the urethra to build up the section where it leaves the bladder.

Ultrasound

One of the best ways to determine the location, explanation, and possible treatment for pelvic floor disorders is ultrasound. Healthcare providers that use ultrasound systems can more easily diagnose and effectively treat pelvic floor dysfunction. Click here for more information on ultrasound solutions.

Medical Device

A pessary is a rubber device that is inserted into the vagina until it touches the cervix and presses through the vaginal wall to support the urethra. It also works by pinching the urethra closed, helping to retain urine in the bladder and helping to decrease Stress UI. For some women with Stress UI, a pessary can only be used during activities that are likely to cause leakage of urine (exercise), however it is safe and can be worn all the time.

Medication

If diet and exercise, behavioral therapies or surgery are not successful, your doctor may combine these treatments with medications shown to be helpful in reducing symptoms. Click here for the most recent list published by the National Association for Continence of current brand name and generic medications used for both overactive bladder and urge incontinence.

Non-Western Medicine

Acupunture is a growing trend practiced by both Urogynecologists and holistic therapists to treat incontinence. In a study published in 2002, incontinence disappeared in 18% of the patients and incontinence symptoms decreased by 50% in 48% of the patients

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This information is not intended to substitute the recommendations of your healthcare providers. Women’s Health Foundation disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.