The added material thickens the tissues and helps the urethra close more tightly. This type of incontinence may also be treated with a stiff ring called a pessary, which is inserted into the vagina to help support the urethra and pelvic muscles. Women whose incontinence is caused by weak pelvic muscles may benefit from injections of collagen or carbon spheres into the tissues around the bladder opening. This helps the brain and the nerves communicate so the bladder and related muscles can function properly. InterStim therapy modulates the sacral nerves with mild electrical pulses.

Your doctor will probably also review the medicines you already take, to find any that may contribute to bladder control problems and suggest changes that could solve the problem.įor patients who did not benefit from medication or lifestyle changes there is InterStim therapy.

Medication is sometimes prescribed to block the nerve signals that cause urgency and frequent urination, or to relax bladder muscles and prevent spasms. Kegel exercises are often recommended, to strengthen the pelvic muscles that help hold urine in the bladder.

These include limiting fluids at certain times or retraining the bladder by developing a schedule for trips to the bathroom. Simple lifestyle changes may help to improve some types of incontinence. Treatment of incontinence depends on the type and severity of the problem. These include urine analysis ultrasound imaging of the bladder, kidney and urethra cystoscopy, which uses a microscopic camera to view the inside of the urethra and bladder and urodynamic testing, which measures pressure in the bladder and the mechanisms that control the flow of urine. Other tests may also be used to determine the type of incontinence you have. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and will examine you for signs of medical conditions that could cause incontinence. You may be asked to keep a diary of the times you urinate and to measure the amounts of urine. Usually occurring in physically or mentally disabled patients with normal bladder function, this type of incontinence is caused by their impairment, which makes it difficult to use the toilet appropriately without assistance. It is often seen in diabetics and some patients with spinal cord injuries.Ī combination of stress and urge incontinence, mixed incontinence is the most common type for women. The combined causes include weakened muscles as well as abnormal nerve signals. Most common in men, overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty completely and the remaining volume of urine overcomes the muscles used to retain it. This may be caused by a urinary tract blockage or weakened bladder muscles. This can be caused by damage to the nervous system or to the nerves and muscles of the bladder, due to multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or spinal injury or disease. Urge incontinence generally results when abnormal nerve signals cause the bladder to contract at inappropriate times. Stress incontinence is usually caused by weakening of the structures supporting the bladder, so that it moves downward to a position where the muscles that ordinarily keep the urethra closed cannot always maintain the necessary pressure. Functional incontinence, due to physical or mental problemsĪlthough incontinence becomes more common as people age, no one should assume that it is part of the normal aging process. There are a number of treatments, ranging from simple lifestyle changes to surgery, that can benefit most patients.Mixed incontinence, which is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.Overflow incontinence, which is leakage that occurs because the bladder doesn’t empty properly.Urge incontinence, defined as an overwhelming need to urinate and the inability to stop.Stress incontinence, caused by actions that put pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing or laughing.

Overflow incontinence stroke