Up to a third of American adults have urinary incontinence, a chronic condition that causes urine leakage. While many people find their symptoms too embarrassing to talk about, seeking medical care is the best way to find a solution.
As a top-rated urogynecologist in South Miami, Florida, Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, offers multiple treatment options for urinary incontinence in patients at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, enabling him to tailor every treatment based on each individual’s needs.
In this post, learn why urinary incontinence happens and how treatment can help.
Although urinary incontinence can affect both women and men, it’s about twice as common among women. That’s probably due to hormonal changes that happen in menopause, along with the physical strain of pregnancy and childbirth.
Other factors can contribute to urinary incontinence and the severity of its symptoms, including:
While dietary choices don’t cause urinary incontinence, some foods and drinks can make your symptoms worse. These include:
Dr. Perez reviews your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors to create a treatment plan that’s designed specifically for you. Part of that evaluation includes determining the type of urinary incontinence you have.
There are three main types of urinary incontinence, and knowing which type you have plays a key role in managing your symptoms.
Stress incontinence is the most common type of incontinence. This is the type that causes you to leak urine when you sneeze, laugh, or cough. Leakage may also occur during sex or other physical activity.
Commonly known as overactive bladder (OAB), urge incontinence is associated with intense feelings that you must empty your bladder right away. These feelings happen frequently, and they can even wake you during sleep.
If you have mixed urinary incontinence, that means you have symptoms of both urge incontinence and stress incontinence.
Urinary incontinence treatment often involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medical therapy. Lifestyle changes may include:
While these changes may help reduce your symptoms, they won’t make them go away. That’s when medical treatment can help.
Dr. Perez offers an array of treatment options, depending on the type of incontinence you have, your symptoms, and its underlying cause. Many women with mild to moderate symptoms benefit from medications to help prevent bladder spasms and address other contributing factors.
For more severe incontinence, Dr. Perez frequently recommends minimally invasive surgery to repair or strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles or to address other problems.
Before recommending a treatment, Dr. Perez performs a thorough physical exam, along with diagnostic imaging and bladder testing to optimize your course of therapy.
Incontinence is a common cause of embarrassment, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right treatment, you can relieve your symptoms and feel more confident and comfortable, too.
To learn more, call 305-240-6047 today to book an appointment with Dr. Perez and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida.
