Urinary incontinence treatment can help you regain bladder control

Are you leaking urine? Embarrassed because you struggle with bladder control? You are not alone. Many women deal with urinary incontinence. Problems range from stress incontinence that causes women to leak urine when they laugh or sneeze, to overactive bladder that makes patients have that constant “gotta go” feeling in addition to urine leakage. Fortunately, the physicians at Athens OBGYN can diagnose your issue and help you find the right urinary incontinence treatment.

You can practice lifestyle modifications alone or in addition to other treatments

The treatment that works best for you depends on the type of incontinence you have and the severity of your symptoms. Lifestyle changes can help some women get the relief they need without any other treatment. The changes are also helpful supplements for patients who are receiving other types of urinary incontinence treatment. Here are some tips.

• Eat a healthy diet and exercise to either lose weight or maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on your bladder.
• Cut back or eliminate alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated drinks. Also, avoid spicy foods.
• Eat more fiber to help reduce constipation, which makes incontinence worse.
• Reduce your fluid intake a few hours before bedtime to avoid nighttime trips to the bathroom.
• Keep a bladder diary to help you keep track of how often you urinate. You can gradually add time between trips to the bathroom to train your bladder to wait and hold more urine.
• Talk to our OBGYNs about whether wearing a bladder support device would help prevent leaks. Devices include a fitted pessary that you insert into your vagina, or an over-the-counter device that works like a tampon.

What exercises strengthen pelvic floor muscles?

Pregnancy, menopause and other issues can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, causing loss of bladder control and urine leakage. Kegel exercises and pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen these vital support muscles, which can be an effective urinary incontinence treatment.

The medical professionals at Athens OBGYN can teach you to perform Kegels properly for the most effective results. We can also recommend physical therapists who perform pelvic floor physical therapy that can help with moderate to severe symptoms.

Medications can provide relief for your bladder control problems

Medications are an effective urinary incontinence treatment. There are several options, including the following.

• Pills, topical gels or skin patches can help prevent that “gotta go” feeling that causes urinary frequency, urgency and leakage.
• There is medication that helps bladder muscles relax, enabling your bladder to store more urine and reducing the need to go urgently and often.
• Vaginal estrogen can also help with symptoms.

In some cases, surgery may be the most effective urinary incontinence treatment

If noninvasive methods and procedures don’t help your problem, our OBGYNs may recommend surgery. There are a variety of methods available, including urethral bulking to decrease urine leaking and slings to help lift and support your urethra. The physicians at Athens OBGYN can help you through the discomfort, worry and embarrassment of urinary incontinence with confidential, compassionate medical advice and treatment. Contact us for an appointment.