Have you been feeling scared to laugh out loud lately?
Are you feeling embarrassed or missing out on all the outdoor fun because of your constant need to go to the bathroom?
In short, have you been suffering from urinary incontinence?
Well, there’s no need to feel embarrassed or worried. Now there are multiple options, both surgical and non-surgical, for you to get rid of this issue for good.
So, get ready to learn about the various treatment methods that get you back to living life without fear of leakage.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
To start with your urinary incontinence treatment plan, your doctor may recommend the following non-surgical treatment options:
1. Behavioral Techniques
The most helpful behavioral techniques that have proved to be quite effective in treating incontinence include:
- Bladder Training: Involves delaying your urge to urinate.
- Double Voiding: Involves urinating, waiting for a few minutes, and then trying to urinate again.
- Scheduled toilet trips: Involves urinating after a specified interval, which trains your bladder accordingly.
- Fluid and diet management: Helps you regain control of your bladder. It involves decreasing the number of liquids you consume, losing weight, and other changes in your eating/drinking habits.
2. Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
These exercises are proven to be one of the most effective non-surgical techniques in treating urinary incontinence.
More commonly known as Kegel exercises, they strengthen your pelvic muscles that help control urination.
3. Medications
Your consultant may also prescribe some medicines to help you deal with urinary incontinence. Every incontinence medicine has a distinct purpose, and what your doctor prescribes depends on the type and severity of your issue.
4. Electrical Stimulation
Electrical Stimulation therapy temporarily places electrodes into your urinary tract to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that help control your urges.
Votiva Vaginal Rejuvenation Therapy combines gentle, controlled volumetric heating of the tissues combined with fractional technology to reduce pain, improve blood circulation, and stimulate the muscles.
5. Medical Devices
Medical devices are specially designed to treat incontinence issue in women, including:
- Urethral Insert involves inserting a disposable device into the urethra before any activity that may trigger incontinence. This device prevents leakage and is removed before urination.
- Pessary involves inserting a flexible silicone ring into your vagina that you wear all day. It supports the urethra and thus prevents urine leakage.
6. Interventional Therapies
There’s also several interventional therapies available that might help with your incontinence problem:
- Bulking Material Injections: It involves injecting a synthetic bulking material into the tissue surrounding your urethra. The material inserted keeps the urethra closed and decreases urine leakage.
- Botox Injections: It’s one of the most straightforward incontinence treatments where botox injections are placed into your bladder muscle.
Surgical Treatment Options
In case non-surgical treatments don’t work, there are various surgical treatment options also available, including:
1. Sling Surgery
Sling surgery involves placing a sling around the neck of your bladder to help support it and prevent urine leakage.
The sling not only supports the bladder but also keeps the urethra closed, particularly when you sneeze or cough.
2. Bladder Neck Suspension
This procedure aims to provide support to your urethra and the bladder neck. It involves lifting the neck of your bladder and stitching it in a suspended position.
The procedure of bladder neck suspension is done with an abdominal incision. Therefore, it’s carried out under general or spinal anesthesia.
3. Vaginal Mesh Surgery
Athis surgery involves inserting a synthetic mesh behind the urethra to support it. It’s also known as tape surgery and is particularly effective for stress incontinence in women.
The synthetic mesh insert stays permanently in your body, and can sometimes cause complications. Talk to your doctor about the risks of this surgery.
4. Artificial Urinary Sphincter
The urinary sphincter is a muscular ring that keeps urine from flowing into the urethra. This procedure involves placing an artificial urinary sphincter around the bladder neck to relieve incontinence.
A small-sized and fluid-filled ring is implanted to keep your urinary sphincter shut unless you need to urinate.
So, Why Worry?
Many cases of urinary incontinence remain untreated as often patients are too shy to seek treatment. Make sure that you don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting the help you need.
Plus, with such a large variety of treatment options available, there’s every chance one or more of them will work for you.
Consult a specialist today, and decide on a treatment plan that’s best for you!