10 Ways to Stop Leaks in Urinary Incontinence

Urine leaks due to urinary incontinence can be stressful and embarrassing. Persistent loss of urine may make you feel wet, dirty and uncomfortable. In turn, many feel they have to restrict their social and physical activities, including shopping, exercise, dancing, or visiting friends. 

Also, many may experience low self-esteem, body negativity, low physical attractiveness, inadequacy, and reduced sexual desire, which tragically can lead to self-isolation, loneliness, and depression. Plus, accidental urine leaks can compromise daily life activities as you have to continually interrupt your life to use the bathroom. 

There are a number of effective treatments for urinary incontinence, including medications, electrical stimulation, medical devices, and surgery. But there is also a lot you can do to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and to avoid accidental leaks. 

Here are 10 ways to stop leaks in urinary incontinence.

  1. Increase your fluid intake

Drinking enough water makes your urine less concentrated. This prevents bladder irritation and minimizes urinary urgency that is usually the immediate cause of urine leakage.

So you shouldn’t stop drinking more water when you have urinary incontinence. Instead, make sure to drink 6-8 ounce glasses of water a day. 

An easier way to know you’re drinking enough water is to monitor the color of your urine. Pale yellow urine means adequate hydration, while darker yellow suggests you should drink more.

  1. Empty your bladder regularly

Visiting the bathroom on schedule, every 2-3 hours, even when you don’t feel the urge to pass urine is effective in preventing urine leaks. The strategy keeps urine volume in the bladder low enough to stop accidental leaks.

Another strategy is to always empty your bladder before you leave your house or other venue, like a restaurant or office, even when you don’t feel the urge to go. This will reduce the chances of having an uncontrollable urge to urinate as you travel or go about your routine.

  1. Know where bathrooms are located

When in a new, unfamiliar destination, such as a museum, restaurant, shopping center or park, make sure to know the location of the bathroom. This will enable you to reach the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to urinate and reduce the chances of accidental leaks. 

  1. Keep a bladder diary

If you want to understand the triggers and patterns behind your urinary incontinence, tracking your bathroom habits using a bladder diary is an effective method. In fact, a few days before you visit your urologist, you should start keeping a diary.

Write down what you drink, the time you drink it, the number of times you pass urine, and whether you’ve had urine-leaking episodes. Also, indicate everything that might have caused the accidental leakage, such as exercising, coughing, or a sense of urgency.

  1. Engage in Kegel exercises

Pelvic floor muscle exercises, called Kegels, help strengthen bladder-supporting muscles and in turn prevent urine leaks and urinary urgency due to overactive bladder. 

Kegels are quite easy to do. For instance, you can simply tighten or squeeze your pelvic floor muscles (muscles that you use to stop urine flow or the passing of gas) for a count of three, then relax them slowly for a count of three. Build up to doing 10-15 squeezes, 3 times a day, and see your bladder control improve within 6 weeks.

The good thing with Kegels is that you can do the exercise any time, at your desk at work or while sitting in your car. 

  1. Lose weight

Losing weight removes the extra pressure on your bladder and pelvic muscles, which can cause accidental leakage. Losing up to 20 pounds of weight over a period of say 6 months can cut bladder leaking episodes by nearly 50 percent.

  1. Cut down bladder-irritating drinks and food

Certain drinks and foods may irritate the lining of your bladder and cause an overwhelming urge to urinate, which may be followed by accidental leakage. For instance, caffeine and alcohol are top bladder irritants. And by limiting alcohol and caffeine beverages, such as tea, coffee, and cola you can prevent urine leaks.

 Also avoid bladder irritants such as apples, apple juice, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages, chili and spicy foods, chocolate, citrus fruit and juices, milk products, cranberries and cranberry juice, pineapple, tomatoes, sugar and honey, and vinegar. 

A good strategy is to try eliminating one or more potential irritants from your diet for 2 weeks, the reintroduce them one by one every few days to see if there is a noticeable difference in your urge to pee, how often you go, and the number of leaks you’ll experience.

  1. Quit smoking

Smoking makes you more vulnerable to urinary incontinence by damaging the small blood vessels in your body and causing tissue weakness. Also, smoking can cause coughing, which may lead to urine leakage by increasing pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. 

Plus, cigarette smoking can triple your risk of bladder cancer, which has one of its symptoms as the need to urinate more often or an uncontrollable urge to urinate, even when the bladder is not full.

  1. Review your medications

Some medications can promote urinary incontinence. For example, diuretics increase urine production by the kidneys while muscle relaxants and sedatives relax the urethra and increase the need to pee.

When you suspect your drugs as culprits in your urinary incontinence, speak with your doctor about it. Your physician will determine if the dosage should be changed, if alternatives could be used, or if you should stop taking them.

  1. Treat constipation promptly

With constipation, your colon swells and strains due to excess abdominal muscle pressure. The continuous straining to pass stool weakens pelvic floor muscles and makes urinary incontinence worse. In turn, bladder muscles are adversely affected and the severity of urinary incontinence increases.

Eat more fiber to prevent constipation. Equally, exercise regularly and drink plenty of water. And if you have chronic constipation, speak with your doctor for recommendations on how to manage it, including taking medications or trying physical therapy.

Are you bothered by urine leaks? At St Pete Urology, we encourage you to make the above simple changes to strengthen your bladder and pelvic muscles, reduce bladder irritation, and improve your urinary incontinence symptoms.  If urine leakage persists, see your urologist to determine the underlying cause and develop a tailored treatment for you.

For more information on urinary incontinence and other urological problems, visit the site “St Pete Urology.”

Does drinking more water help incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a frustrating, embarrassing condition. Who wants to always be on the lookout for the nearest restroom, or have to deal with an unexpected leak during a cough, sneeze or lifting a weight.

If this condition is not well managed, you may experience discomfort in social situations, affecting your behavior and how you interact with others.

Can drinking more water help?

When you have urinary incontinence, your first instinctive reaction would be to reduce your water intake. You may also be hesitant to drink lots of fluids as a way of forestalling the leaks and minimizing your toilet visits.

But drinking more water is not bad.

While it sounds counterproductive, drinking more water helps with incontinence.

First, your body is full of fluid, and you always need to drink more water to replace the fluid you lose. Failure to drink enough water leads to dehydration.

Secondly, when you drink more water, you ensure a free filtration of fluids via your kidneys. Doing so means that wastes and other substances do not build up in your urinary tract and that your urine does not get more concentrated.

When urine becomes more concentrated, your bladder is irritated, and incontinence worsens.

You can tell when you’re dehydrated, and your urine is more concentrated when it looks darker, cloudy, and has a strong odor.

Concentrated urine results in irritation, which translates to pain or burning sensation while passing urine.

An irritated bladder increases urgency, which is bad news if you have urinary incontinence. So drinking more water is effective when done correctly.

With the right amount of water, you can prevent dehydration, keep your urine dilute, avert bladder irritation, and minimize incontinence.

You must strike a balance, as drinking too much water may also cause excessive leaks.

How do you drink more water to manage incontinence?

1. Drink enough fluid every day
For a grown man, enough fluid is roughly 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. For a woman, 9 cups (2.2 liters) of drinks a day is ideal. In terms of drinking water, the right quantity is 4-8 eight-ounce cups a day.

2. Drink when thirsty
Your body has a way of directing how much water you need, and you will notice this in how frequently you get thirsty. When this occurs, make sure to drink water immediately.

3. Drink it in sips
When you drink water, you must avoid guzzling one or two cups at a time, which can overwhelm your bladder. Instead, drink water by frequent sipping. It would be best to have smaller amounts of water and liquid throughout the day, sipping slowly over several sittings.

4. Drink most of your water early in the day
Drinking water a few hours before bedtime can be problematic, especially if you are struggling with nocturia. A good practice is to drink most of your water in the morning and afternoon and avoid drinking 2-4 hours before going to bed.

5. Be creative
While plain water is ideal for urinary incontinence, you can try flavored water to boost your fluid intake. Add fresh mint or a splash of lime or lemon to your water. Dilute your juice as much as possible. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as they have high water content. Just make sure to avoid adding sugar, particularly if you have diabetes.

6. Drink fluids with every snack and meal
Whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any little snack in between, ensure to complement it with a glass of water.

7. Carry a bottle of water with you
Whether at your desk, in your car, or in your bag, always have some water with you. The easiest way to drink enough water is to make it a habit to carry a water bottle wherever you go.

Get the right balance gradually

Drinking enough water without overwhelming your bladder is a practice you will learn with time. Once you know how to go about it, you will stay hydrated and reduce urine leakage.

Take it gradually and learn to balance your water consumption with your other health goals and lifestyle.

Seeking treatment for urinary incontinence

Are you having urinary incontinence? Visit your urologist today to determine the actual cause of the condition and get proper treatment.

The problem may be a result of the aging process, urinary tract infection, or a symptom of a disease, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

At St Pete Urology, we offer a wide array of solutions for urinary incontinence, including guided pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises), bladder retraining, Botox injection, medications, and surgery.

Come and see us today for tailored treatment of your leaky bladder.

ST PETE UROLOGY IS FIRST TO OFFER NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FROM MEDTRONIC TO TREAT PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM INCONTINENCE

 

Contacts:

Phone: (727) 822–9208
Fax: (727) 822–9211

StPeteUrology@gmail.com

ST PETE UROLOGY IS FIRST TO OFFER NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FROM MEDTRONIC TO TREAT PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM INCONTINENCE 

The New FDA Approved InterStim™ Micro is the Smallest and Fastest Rechargeable Bladder and Bowel Control System with Conditional Full-Body MRI

Full-Body MRI Conditional InterStim™ II and InterStim™ Micro Systems Give Patients a Choice Between Sacral Neuromodulation Devices to Suit Their Lifestyle

ST PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 28, 2021 –  St Pete Urology is one of the only medical providers in St. Petersburg, FL to offer new solutions to the millions  of people who suffer from incontinence thanks to technology advancements from Medtronic — the world’s leading provider of therapy for bladder and bowel control issues. 

More than 37 million adults in the United States – almost one in six – suffer from overactive bladder (OAB) and nearly 18 million Americans – about one in 12 – have fecal incontinence (FI).1-4 It is life-altering because many sufferers limit their lives socially, professionally, and personally,5 but it is  treatable. The new InterStim™ II and InterStim Micro systems provide patients with safe, effective relief from OAB and FI. The InterStim™ II recharge-free system offers patients freedom from a recharging routine, the hassle of recharging components, and a reminder they have a disease. The rechargeable InterStim™ Micro system, the smallest device available in the sacral neuromodulation (SNM) market, benefits patients who want a smaller, longer lasting device. Both systems are full-body* conditional MRI and deliver the same therapy with long-term relief.

“Effective long-term bladder and bowel control is an unmet medical need by many in the St. Petersburg area who experience regular accidents and/or frequency issues associated with OAB and FI. It can significantly impact all aspects of a person’s quality of life – self-confidence, exercise, activities and even intimacy,” said Adam Oppenheim, DO. “By partnering with Medtronic, the trusted leader in SNM therapy, my goal is to help give patients a life without limits.” 

Known as sacral neuromodulation (SNM), the therapy is delivered by the InterStim™ system – an implanted medical device that provides gentle stimulation to the sacral nerve and is thought to normalize the brain-bladder connection to alleviate symptoms. Medtronic developed SNM therapy more than 25 years ago in partnership with physicians who specialize in treating incontinence. Recent technology advancements from Medtronic now gives patients lifestyle-friendly choices in the type of InterStim system they choose; improved battery technology; conditional full-body MRI; and the smallest and fastest charging device on the SNM market.

“I must say, I was very impressed with EVERY aspect of my visit with Dr. Oppenheim. His knowledge goes without saying. Top notch. I was taken aback, though, by his patience and kindness. He took the time to listen patiently to the questions I had. I didn’t feel rushed. He answered those questions in a way that was very easy for me to understand. The staff that I encountered were friendly and assistive. I was also glad that any procedures/tests that he recommended I need are done right there at the office, not a hospital. His office and the building in which it’s in is very easy to find. Overall, a great experience. Should the need arise for anyone I know to need a urologist, I’m definitely recommending Dr. Oppenheim and his staff.”

“For much too long, my life revolved around where I would find the next bathroom,” said Wes Linkovich. “I’m so glad I finally sought help and was open-minded about sacral neuromodulation. My therapy fits well with my lifestyle and, finally, I can focus on the things I love. To anyone suffering in silence, please ask your doctor or urologist about the InterStim™ system from Medtronic. I wish I done this sooner.”  

Not every patient receives the same benefit, and there are potential risks, which may include surgical, device and stimulation risks.6   St Pete Urology will explain the benefits and risks and help each patient find their best treatment. 

About St Pete Urology

Drs. Reid Graves, Nicholas Laryngakis and Adam Oppenheim are dedicated to serving the urological needs of the Tampa Bay and surrounding communities. We strive to provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment and believe in rendering the least invasive, most efficacious treatment of urological disorders in a kind, empathetic, manner. We treat each patient as a partner in his or her medical care and make patient education a central component of our care. Because many urological conditions are accompanied by social discomfort or embarrassment, we emphasize sensitivity and discretion when dealing with all of our patients’ concern

-end-

*Under certain conditions; see approved labeling for details. Patients with InterStim™ SureScan™ MRI leads only
References:

  1. Stewart WF, et al. Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol. 2003 May;20(6):327-336.
  2. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social A airs, Population Division (2011). World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision, CD-ROM Edition.
  3. United States Quick Facts. United States Census Bureau Web site. Available at: https:// www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/ PST045215/00. Accessed July 19, 2016.
  4. Whitehead WE, Borrud L, Goode PS, et al. Fecal Incontinence in US adults: epidemiology and risk factors. Gastroenterology. 2009;137(2):512- 517.
  5. Dmochowski RR, Newman DK. Impact of overactive bladder on women in the United States: results of a national survey. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2007;23:65-76.
  6. Link to Important Safety Information

9 Tips to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

The bladder’s function is to store urine and allow urination to be infrequent and controlled. Bladder problems may lead to bothersome issues such as incontinence, infections and overactive bladder. While you may not be able to prevent every possible bladder problem, taking appropriate measures can help to lessen many of them.

What should you do to keep your bladder healthy?

1. Drink plenty of fluid

Drinking plenty of fluid increases the volume and frequency of urination, which in turn helps to flush out bacteria from your bladder. Water is the best fluid for your bladder and should be at least half of your daily fluid intake.

Ideally, you should drink 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water every day. But if you engage in intense exercise or activity, you may need to drink more to compensate for fluid loss. On the other hand, if you have a condition such as heart disease or kidney failure, you may need to drink less. Speak with your doctor about how much fluid is right for you.

2. Avoid smoking

Smokers are more likely to develop bladder control issues than non-smokers. Cigarette smokers also tend to have more severe bladder symptoms. For heavy smokers, there is a tendency to develop a chronic cough, which exerts added pressure on the bladder and worsens urinary incontinence. Plus, tobacco smokers are three times more prone to bladder cancer than non-smokers. Avoiding cigarette smoking is good for your bladder health.

3. Get active

Physical activity not only relieves bladder problems but also prevents fluid buildup in the legs. Fluid retention in the legs—usually due to heart disease or a sedentary lifestyle—can lead to bladder control issues. You can reduce fluid retention through low-impact moderate activity such as biking, swimming or walking briskly for at least 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.

4. Do Kegel exercises

Weak pelvic floor muscles are a common cause of urine leakage (incontinence). Kegel exercises target and strengthen pelvic floor muscles and keep urine from leaking when you sneeze, laugh, lift or have a sudden urge to urinate. Speak with your urologist about what kind of exercise will benefit you the most.

5. Avoid bladder irritants

Certain foods and beverages can irritate the bladder and trigger bladder problems. Known bladder irritants include alcoholic beverages, apples, apple juice, bananas, brewer’s yeast and carbonated drinks. Others are chilies, chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee, cranberries, grapes, nuts, raw onions, raisins, soy sauce, tomatoes and vinegar.

While you don’t have to stop eating your favorite foods and drinks entirely, reducing the amounts can improve your bladder symptoms.

6. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight is a risk factor for incontinence, particularly stress incontinence. The excess weight exerts more pressure on the abdomen and bladder and weakens pelvic floor muscles. In fact, nearly 50-percent of older people who are overweight struggle with bladder incontinence.
By losing weight in the abdominal area, you can reduce pressure on the bladder and pelvic muscles and improve bladder control. In many cases, weight loss improves incontinence symptoms or gets rid of them completely. Make healthy food choices and engage in regular exercise to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

7. Prevent constipation

Bladder problems are quite common in people with constipation because a full rectum presses the bladder wall causing either outflow obstruction or increased spasm. Also, constipation makes pelvic muscles overactive, which causes dysfunction in stool and urine elimination and leads to an overactive bladder. You can reduce constipation by drinking enough water, eating high-fiber foods (like whole grains, fruits, and fresh vegetables), and being physically active.

8. Manage medications

Some medications can trigger bladder control problems. For example, high blood pressure prescriptions tend to increase urine output and relax bladder muscles resulting in urine leakage. Drugs such as antidepressants, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers may hinder bladder contraction and reduce awareness of the need to urinate.

You should not stop taking your medications just because you suspect they are responsible for your bladder issues. Instead, and before making any change, speak with your doctor about your concerns. The doctor may adjust the dosage or offer a different medication. In cases where the benefits of the medications far outweigh the related bladder issues, your doctor will work with you on alternative ways to ease symptoms.

9. Flush out bacteria

Proper cleaning of the genital area before and after sexual intercourse helps to reduce bacteria and prevents bladder infections. Passing urine before and after sex helps to flush out bacteria and stops their entry into the urethra during sex.

Since holding urine in the bladder for too long increases the risk of infection and can weaken bladder muscles, make sure to pass urine as often as possible. Use the bathroom at least every 3 to 4 hours, and when urinating, don’t rush. Take your time to fully empty your bladder.

At St Pete Urology, we provide expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of urinary disorders. Our urology specialists will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan for your problems. We value our multidisciplinary and compassionate approach to caring for our patients. For more information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of urinary disorders, visit the St Pete Urology website.

What Causes Bladder Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is basically the loss of bladder control or leaking urine. Women experience urinary incontinence twice as frequently as men. One reason for this difference is that childbirth and pregnancy, as well as menopause, can contribute to making urinary incontinence more likely. There are two common types that affect women, stress incontinence or urge incontinence (or overactive bladder, also known as OAB).

Urine is made by the kidneys and is stored in the bladder. There are muscles in the bladder that tighten, causing a need to urinate. When these muscles tighten, urine is forced out of the bladder through the urethra. Urination happens when the sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra relax, letting urine out of your body. Urinary incontinence can make you leak small amounts of urine, or release larger amounts of urine suddenly.

For women, urinary incontinence may happen regardless of age, but it’s most likely to occur in older women. Almost half of women 65 and older have some type of urinary incontinence.

Signals that you have an incontinence issue that merits seeing a urologist include spasms or pressure in the pelvic area, causing an urgent need to urinate. Also frequent trips to the bathroom, for example, more than eight times per day or more than two per night while you sleep.

Your doctor will give you a plan of treatment, starting with steps that you can do at home. If these activities don’t improve symptoms, your doctor might recommend seeing a urologist or recommend other treatments, depending on whether you have urge incontinence or stress incontinence, or both.

What You Can Try at Home

Your doctor, nurse or urologist may suggest exercises that you can do at home. These preventative activities may stop urinary incontinence, or help you leak less.

Here are some of the activities that may be prescribed:

  • Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises targeted to strengthen the pelvic floor can help. However, some women’s pelvic floor muscles remain tightened all the time. In those cases, Kegel exercises not only will not help your urinary symptoms but they may cause more problems.
  • Bladder training. Going to the bathroom at regular times can help control an overactive bladder and help urge incontinence. You will be asked to keep a bladder diary to track how often you make a trip to the bathroom. You then will add 15 minutes to the intervals between bathroom visits. You should urinate each time, regardless of whether or not you feel an urge to go. You will be incrementally increasing the time between visits. Eventually your can train your bladder to retain more urine before it needs to be emptied.
  • Losing weight. Having extra pounds adds pressure to the bladder and surrounding muscles, which can cause bladder control problems.
  • Changing eating habits. Drinks with carbonation, alcohol or caffeine may aggravate incontinence.
  • Treating Constipation. Try eating more fiber because constipation can worsen urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence does not need to be a normal part of aging. It is sometimes a signal of another health problem, such as weak pelvic floor muscles. There are different types of treatment available to help ease the problem. Our team of specialists at Advanced Urology Institute have years of experience working with patients with urinary incontinence and can develop the best plan for the individual’s needs. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Facts About Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

What Is Urinary Incontinence?

Many women have a silent concern due to urinary incontinence. It somehow seems taboo to talk about the problem, even with a regular doctor or gynecologist. There are approximately 25 million Americans who suffer from some type of urinary incontinence and as many as 80 percent of them are women. Pregnancy, giving birth, going through menopause and even the unique structure of the female urinary anatomy contribute to the disparity between male and female sufferers.

Urinary incontinence is defined as the unintentional loss or leakage of urine. The term “stress incontinence” means that when the body is under exertion it puts pressure on your bladder and the bladder leaks. Some triggers for stress incontinence include running, coughing, sneezing, bending or heavy lifting.

Bladder Retraining

The bladder is controlled by muscles and it can be trained. You may wish to keep a voiding diary, noting things like times of urination, duration between bathroom trips, types of food or beverages that seem to trigger urgency or frequency of bathroom trips. This journal describing your symptoms and potential causes can help if you need to visit a urologist for treatment.

As you establish baselines for your urinary problem, you can start behavior modification and training your bladder. Here’s how to do it:

  • Schedule Your Bathroom Breaks

Start by scheduling bathroom visits. Increase the time periods between those breaks by adding 15-minute increments. Visit the bathroom even if you don’t feel you need to go. You will be working toward longer and longer stretches of time between breaks.

  • Perform Kegel Exercises

When you learn to isolate the muscles that control urine flow, you can practice having more control by performing Kegel exercises while sitting, standing or during urination.

Other Tips to Prevent Overactive Bladder:

  • In addition to bladder retraining, you may want to eliminate or limit beverages that increase the need for urinating, like coffee, tea or caffeinated sodas.
  • Drink fewer fluids before bedtime.

Treating Overactive Bladder With Behavioral Modifications

You needn’t feel alone when you have urinary incontinence. Make an appointment with a urologist who is trained to deal with your condition. Your doctor may take any of the following approaches beyond what you can do on your own:

  • Recommend biofeedback,
  • Send urine or drawn blood to the lab to determine how completely you empty your bladder.
  • Prescribe medicine to address bladder function or tighten muscles.
  • Employ a medical device, such as a urethral insert or a pessary.
  • Try nerve stimulation, using a mild electric current to nerves in the bladder that help control urination.
  • Suggest surgery if indicated.

If you have stress incontinence, you may be limiting yourself from fully participating in life events. Seek treatment from experts like those at St Pete Urology, where surgeons perform hundreds of successful sling surgery procedures every year. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.

Urge Incontinence Treatment for Women

Urge incontinence is often a symptom of an unstable or overactive bladder. Characterized by a sudden strong desire to pass urine that can’t be postponed (urgency), urge incontinence usually comes with frequency (more often than normal) during the day and several times at night. Some women may even experience urine leakage during sex, particularly during orgasm. Although many women may avoid leakage by urinating frequently, they find the continual need to visit a bathroom quite restrictive to their lifestyles.

How do you know you have urge incontinence?

With urge incontinence, you will have urine loss because bladder muscles squeeze or contract at the wrong times. These contractions occur repeatedly, regardless of how much urine is in the bladder. There are 3 main indicators that you have urge incontinence:

  1. Inability to control when you urinate
  2. Having to pass urine frequently during the day and night
  3. Needing to pass urine suddenly and urgently

Causes of urge incontinence

There are two principal causes of urge incontinence. Irritation within the bladder may trigger incontinence. Or it may be loss of the nervous system’s inhibitory control on bladder contractions. For example, neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and stroke may diminish bladder control and cause urge incontinence. Likewise, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, bladder cancer, bladder stones, alcohol consumption, infections, diuretic medicine and inflammation that irritate the bladder or damage its nerves may cause incontinence. Urge incontinence also may indicate a more serious problem. For instance, when the urgency to pass urine is accompanied by blood in urine, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) or an inability to empty the bladder completely, these may be red flags for a more serious issue than just urinary incontinence.

How is urge incontinence treated?

Generally a few lifestyle adjustments may help a woman cope with urge incontinence. For instance, making it as easy as possible to get to the bathroom, avoiding caffeine (tea, cola and coffee), avoiding alcohol, reducing amount of fluid intake per day and losing weight can help relieve symptoms. Secondly, bladder training (also called bladder drill) and pelvic floor muscle exercises can be combined to treat urge incontinence. A third solution may be treating urge incontinence with medicines called anticholinergics (antimuscarinics) such as oxybutynin, solifenacin, tolterodine, trospium chloride, propiverine, darifenacin and fesoterodine fumarate. And if the urge incontinence is associated with the lining of the vagina after menopause, applying estrogen cream directly inside the vagina may help.

Urge incontinence is also treated using Botulinum Toxin A (Botox), a prescription-only medication that relieves the incontinence when other options such as bladder training and other medication have failed. When these treatments are not successful, the urologist may suggest surgery. Surgical procedures for treating urge incontinence include sacral nerve stimulation, percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation, augmentation cystoplasty and urinary diversion.

At St Pete Urology, our doors are open to all women troubled by incontinence. We are a recognized name in the urological community and boast of a team of highly innovative, experienced and certified physicians who deliver leading-edge urology and patient-centered care. We know there are many women who live with severe urological problems and we do our best to help those who come to us. We are good at treating these disorders. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.

What is the best treatment for urinary incontinence?

The sling procedure is the best, safest and most effective surgical operation for treating urinary stress incontinence. During the procedure, the urologist creates a sling using an artificial mesh, animal tissue or human tissue and places it under the urethra to support the urethra and bladder neck and to prevent unintentional urine loss.

What is stress incontinence?

Unintentional urine leakage (loss) occurs when you engage in physical activities or movements, such as running, sneezing, heavy-lifting, coughing or any action that puts stress (pressure) on your bladder. The condition is triggered by the weakening of pelvic floor muscles (the muscles supporting your bladder) and urinary sphincter muscles (muscles that control the release of urine).

Normally, as the bladder fills with urine and expands, the valve-like muscles in the urethra remain closed to prevent leakage of urine until you have reached the bathroom. However, if those muscles weaken and are not able to withstand pressure, then anything that exerts pressure on your pelvic and abdominal muscles can cause unintentional loss of urine.

Your sphincter and pelvic floor muscles may weaken because of:

  1. Type of childbirth/delivery.
  2. Previous pelvic or abdominal muscle surgery.
  3. Obesity/increased body weight.
  4. Smoking, which may trigger frequent coughing.
  5. Prolonged involvement in high-impact activities, such as running and jumping for several years.
  6. Age — the muscles weaken with increasing age.

You have stress urinary incontinence if you frequently leak urine when you:

  1. Sneeze
  2. Cough
  3. Stand up
  4. Laugh
  5. Have sex
  6. Get out of your car
  7. Exercise
  8. Lift something heavy

While stress incontinence does not imply that you will lose urine every time you do these things, you will most likely experience frequent leakage of urine when you engage in pressure-increasing activities.

Why should you undergo the sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence?

Having stress incontinence can be really awkward and embarrassing. In fact, with frequent leakage of urine, you may begin isolating yourself and limiting your social and work life. For instance, you may find it difficult to engage in exercise and in different leisure activities for fear of urine leakage. But with treatment, you can manage the incontinence and improve your overall quality of life and well-being. The sling procedure is ideal for you if you’ve tried other measures and still find urine leakage disruptive to your life.

How does the sling procedure work?

The sling procedure is aimed at closing your urethra and the neck of your bladder. For the procedure, your surgeon uses strips of synthetic mesh, animal tissue, donor tissue or your own tissue to develop a sling (hammock) that is inserted under your urethra or bladder neck. Once the sling is placed, it supports the urethra and ensures it remains closed — particularly when you are engaged in pressure-increasing activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or exercise — preventing the leakage of urine.

How is the sling procedure performed?

Before the procedure begins, you are placed under either general or spinal anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you will remain asleep throughout the procedure and will feel no pain. With spinal anesthesia, you are completely awake except that the area of your body from the waist down is numb and you don’t feel pain as the procedure is performed. Following application of anesthesia, the urologist places a tube (catheter) into your bladder to drain any urine already inside it.

The surgeon then proceeds to place the sling in any of the following ways:

1. Retropubic Method (Tension-Free Vaginal Tape/TVT Method): The surgeon makes a tiny incision inside your vagina, just under the urethra. Two other cuts are then made above your pubic bone — large enough to allow needles through. The surgeon uses a needle to place the sling beneath the urethra and behind the pubic bone. Using stitches or skin glue that is easily absorbed by the body, the surgeon closes off the cuts.

2. Single-Incision Mini Method: The surgeon makes a single tiny incision in the vagina, then passes the sling through it. No stitches are used to attach the sling, but over time the scar tissue grows and forms around it, keeping it in place.

3. Transobturator Method: The surgeon makes a tiny cut inside the vagina, just under the urethra. Two more cuts are made, one on each side of the labia (folds of skin on either side of the vagina). Using the incisions, the surgeon inserts the sling under the urethra.

At St Pete Urology, we perform hundreds of sling surgery procedures every year with remarkable results for our patients. The sling procedure is an outpatient operation that takes about one hour to complete and the patient is free to go home the same day. After the procedure, we arrange for follow-up sessions with our patients in the doctor’s office to assess the efficacy of the procedure and help with any complications that may arise. So if you are feeling embarrassed by stress urinary incontinence or have tried other measures without success, check with us to find out if the sling procedure can help you overcome the condition. For more information, visit the “St Pete Urology” site.

How do men deal with incontinence?

While a man with urinary incontinence needs to see a urologist for proper and timely treatment, there are certain things he can do on his own to manage the symptoms. In fact, taking these actions will not only prevent and relieve symptoms, but also will help overcome incontinence.Ways of managing urinary incontinence in men include:

1. Keeping a diary

Keeping track of how much fluid you drink, how frequently you have to go to the bathroom, when and how often you leak urine, and anything that triggers your symptoms, such as drinking a lot of coffee, coughing or bending your body in a certain way is an effective way of monitoring your incontinence. Using the diary, your doctor can get a better grip of your symptoms and how they affect your life, and find the right tests necessary for correct diagnosis.

2. Regular double-voiding

Double-voiding is a great way to minimize dribbling. So when you finish urinating, you should wait for a minute or so and then try voiding again. If you succeed to pass urine in the second attempt, you’ll seldom dribble afterward.

3. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol irritate the bladder and often worsen incontinence symptoms. By cutting down the amount of tea, sodas, coffee and alcohol you drink, you’ll make a massive difference with your urinary incontinence symptoms.

4. Quitting smoking

Smoking tobacco aggravates urinary incontinence in men. So the sooner you quit tobacco the better for you.

5. Spacing apart your drinks

Staggering your fluid intake can help to ease the symptoms. For instance, if you are having a lot of trouble at night, drinking less fluid before going to bed might help. And when you have problems during the day, it might help to drink less fluid many hours before you travel or leave home for an event.

6. Avoiding foods that trigger symptoms

Certain foods trigger urinary incontinence symptoms in men. For example, spicy foods and acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits are common culprits. Likewise, artificial sweeteners and chocolate may trigger incontinence. While everyone is different, it’s wise to identify the foods that worsen your symptoms and avoid them.

7. Training the bladder

Training your bladder can help you to control urinary incontinence. You can do this by starting to take scheduled bathroom breaks whether you are feeling the urge to go or not. Then gradually extend the time you take between your bathroom trips, making a conscious effort to tame your symptoms and push yourself to only pass urine every 3 or 4 hours. Bladder training may not give immediate results, but if you persist, you’ll get positive results within a few months.

8. Flexing your bladder muscles

Exercising the right muscles will help strengthen them and improve your bladder control. Because exercising the wrong muscles may increase pressure on your bladder, you should correctly identify the ones you exercise. The right muscles to focus on are those you would use to stop yourself from passing gas.

So how do you flex them? Apply tension on the muscles for 3 seconds, then allow them to relax for another 3 seconds. Build up gradually until you’re able to do three sets of ten repetitions. You can perform these exercises anywhere — at your desk, in bed or when watching TV, but don’t do them when urinating as that can lead to infections. You should do the exercises for 15 minutes per day. While it usually takes 3-6 weeks to achieve the desired effect, positive results may be noticed soon by men who are doing the right exercises frequently.

9. Lose weight and stay hydrated

Excess weight increases pressure on the abdomen and makes urinary incontinence worse. By shedding a few pounds, you can reduce symptoms. Likewise, while it seems a good idea to drink less water in order to prevent leaks, drinking less only makes urine more concentrated and increases bladder irritation, resulting in more urinary incontinence. Therefore, if you’re thirsty, drink some water.

10. Treat constipation

Constipation, together with the strain that comes with it, can negatively affect the nerves that control bladder function. By eating a high-fiber diet and taking the necessary actions to prevent constipation, you may help your incontinence.

11. Speak with your doctor about any medication adverse effects

Some medications and supplements can cause or worsen your incontinence. For instance, sedatives, antidepressants, diuretics and various allergy and cold medicines may elicit urinary problems. So make sure your doctor is aware of the medicines and supplements you’re using and of any adverse effects you’re experiencing.

12. Planning ahead

A lot of men with urinary incontinence are anxious whenever they have to travel, fearing accidental urine leaks. To ease your anxiety when going on a road trip, make sure to map out the route and identify the places you’ll stop at regular intervals to use the bathroom. Going out with a plan will make you confident and less prone to accidental urine leaks.

13. Get support

Urinary incontinence can be both stressful and embarrassing and you may even feel lonely and hopeless. So you should make an effort to remain connected with your family and friends. Joining a support group also may be beneficial. Your doctor can help you find any support groups in your area.

Applying these techniques may help relieve urinary incontinence symptoms. But because on their own these techniques are inadequate for managing urinary incontinence, you should work closely with your doctor to find the best solutions for your condition, particularly if the symptoms are adversely affecting your life. It’s also prudent to always speak with your doctor before you try any of these techniques for managing urinary incontinence. If you’re looking for a urologist near you, then you can always see one of our urologists at Florida’s St Pete Urology in St. Petersburg. For more information on the right treatment plan for urinary incontinence in men, visit the “St. Pete Urology” site.

4 Effective Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Men

There is no single treatment for urinary incontinence that works for all men. The treatment that your urologist recommends will depend on the type of urinary incontinence you are having and the severity of the symptoms on your life. At St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Fl, urologists may even consider your lifestyle and your treatment preferences, beginning with the simpler treatment options before going for the complex ones.

In fact, many men usually regain urinary control after changing a few of their habits and engaging in exercises to strengthen their bladder muscles. But if the behavioral treatments fail to yield desirable results, the urologist may choose to apply a continence device or prescribe medications. In some men, surgery is the right treatment for their urinary incontinence.

If there is no cancer, infection or other underlying cause of urinary incontinence that can only be cured by surgery, the urologist will complete the treatment in stages, starting with behavioral changes and performing surgery only as a last resort. Here are the 4 treatments that are effective for urinary incontinence in men.

1. Behavioral treatments

For some men, treatment of urinary incontinence is as simple as planning for regular bathroom trips or limiting fluid intake to certain times of the day. This type of therapy for UI is called bladder training or timed voiding. So at St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Fl, the urologist may recommend some changes in your urinary habits, diet or lifestyle to help you gain control over your bladder. As you regain control, you will be able to extend the time you take between bathroom trips. Bladder training (timed voiding) also includes Kegel exercises for strengthening pelvic muscles to enable the bladder to hold urine longer.

2. Medicines

Urologists prescribe medicines that can help to improve bladder control in men with urinary incontinence. The medicines work in different ways, with some blocking abnormal nerve signals sent at the wrong time while others slow down urine production. Still other medications help relax bladder muscles or shrink an enlarged prostate. The most common drugs used for urinary incontinence in men include:

(a) Alpha-blockers: Drugs such as Doxazosin (Cardura), Terazosin (Hytrin), Alfzosin (Uroxatral) and Tamsulosin (Flomax) are used to relieve urinary incontinence caused by bladder outlet obstruction and prostate enlargement. These drugs relax the smooth muscles of the bladder neck and prostate, encouraging the normal flow of urine and preventing abnormal contractions of the bladder, which may cause incontinence.

(b) Imipramine: The drug Tofranil, which belongs to the tricyclic antidepressants class, works by relaxing muscles and blocking nerve signals that might lead to bladder spasms. This helps to relieve urinary incontinence in men.

(c) Antispasmodics: Drugs such as tolterodine (Detrol LA), trospium chloride (Sanctura), solifenacin succinate (VESIcare), darifenacin (Enablex), oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) and Finasteride (Proscar) work by relaxing bladder muscles and relieving muscle spasms, which in turn helps to relieve urinary incontinence.

(d) 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Drugs such as dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar) inhibit the production of DHT, a male hormone believed to be responsible for prostatic enlargement. When administered, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors relieve urinary incontinence through the shrinking of an enlarged prostate.

3. Self-catheterization

Urologists at St Pete Urology in St. Petersburg may recommend self-catheterization for men having overflow incontinence due to a weak bladder or a blockage. The catheter (a thin, hollow tube) is inserted through the urethra to reach the bladder and help drain the bladder in men having urinary incontinence. In some cases, urologists may recommend self-catheterization when their evaluations have established that surgery is not ideal for their patients.

4. Surgical treatments

If you are suffering from urinary incontinence because of a nerve-damaging event, such as radical prostatectomy or spinal cord injury, then surgery is the best treatment for the condition. The surgery performed may be a urinary diversion, male sling or artificial sphincter.

(a) Urinary diversion surgery: If all the bladder function has been lost or the bladder must be removed after nerve damage, the urologist may consider an operation to create a urinary diversion. During this procedure, the surgeon will create a reservoir by removing a small piece of your small intestine and then redirecting the ureters to the reservoir. A stoma (an opening in the lower abdomen that is used to drain urine into a bag or through a catheter) also may be created by the surgeon.

(b) Male sling surgery: In the sling procedure, the surgeon boosts the support for the urethra by wrapping it with a strip of material and then attaching the ends of the strip to your pelvic bone. The sling will ensure there is constant pressure on the urethra and that the urethra does not open unless the patient consciously decides to release the urine.

(c) Artificial sphincter surgery: At other times, the urologist may decide to implant a device (artificial sphincter) that can keep the urethra closed until the patient reaches the bathroom and is ready to pass urine. This operation helps men with urinary incontinence due to weak sphincter muscles or nerve damage that has impaired the functioning of the sphincter muscle.

At St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Fl, we know that urinary incontinence in men is an underreported and under-diagnosed problem, as many patients are too embarrassed to seek treatment. We apply a personalized, friendly, compassionate and multidisciplinary approach in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of urological problems. This approach ensures that all types of urinary incontinence are correctly diagnosed and treated promptly. If you suspect that you or your loved one is suffering from urinary incontinence, visit St Pete Urology for effective treatment. For more information on urological disorders, visit the “St Pete Urology” site.