While some urinary incontinence is minor – just a small leak when you sneeze that can be managed with a panty liner or period panties, urinary continence can become severe enough to require surgical intervention. Determining what type of incontinence that you suffer from will help to determine the proper course of treatment.
How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated?
There are a number of treatments for urinary incontinence.
Kegel Exercise –Performing Kegel exercises can be an effective treatment for mild stress incontinence. This is the type of incontinence normally experienced by women who have been pregnant and given birth. Kegels can help restore bladder control, while managing weight can reduce the pressure on the bladder.
Weight loss – Being overweight or obese can contribute to incontinence. Simply exercising by walking 20-30 minutes a day can help you improve.
Bladder Training – For more severe incontinence, the patient may need to train their bladders by making scheduled bathroom breaks. Kegel exercises as well as increased fitness to strengthen the abdomen may also help, but in some cases, using panty liners or adult incontinence products may still be required.
Surgical intervention – While surgery is a more invasive treatment, in some cases, it is the recommended course of action. In more serious cases of incontinence, particularly if you’ve experienced a vaginal prolapse, surgery may be necessary. Your doctor may also consider treating you with medicines that control urgency and frequency symptoms.
If you are experiencing symptoms of urinary incontinence or uterine prolapse, schedule an appointment with an Ob/Gyn specialist at Huey & Weprin Ob/Gyn. With specialized care and cutting-edge treatments in obstetrics and gynecology, Huey & Weprin Ob/Gyn offers a wide variety of gynecologic and obstetric services from leaders in Ob/Gyn research development. Call 937.771.5100 or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment.
