Get Help for Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Leaking urine and feeling that “gotta go” feeling all the time? You may have mixed urinary incontinence, meaning that you have two different kinds of incontinence at the same time. Usually, this problem is a combination of stress and urge incontinence. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to have both issues; however, in many cases, your symptoms from one type of incontinence will be stronger than the symptoms caused by the second type. Don’t try to cope alone — see our compassionate, experienced Houston urologists for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of stress and urge incontinence combined

While mixed urinary incontinence can refer to any combination of two types of urinary incontinence, most of the time, this condition is a combination of stress and urge urinary incontinence.

Symptoms of stress incontinence include the following.

• Urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, lift heavy things, exercise or have sexual intercourse
• Leaking urine when you change position, such as coming to sit or stand from a lying down position

Urge incontinence causes the following problems.

• Feeling the sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Urine leakage before you can make it to the bathroom
• A frequent urge to urinate, even when the bladder isn’t full
• Getting up to use the bathroom more than twice during the night
• Accidental bed wetting

Several issues can cause mixed urinary incontinence

Our Houston urologists have the skill and training to treat the symptoms of both stress urinary incontinence and urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, or OAB.

Most women who have stress incontinence have weak pelvic floor muscles, often due to childbirth. Other problems can also weaken the pelvic muscles, including pelvic surgeries, injuries, medications and being overweight or obese.

Women get urge incontinence twice as often as men. The risk of developing the condition increases as people age. Other causes include diabetes, medications, menopause, neurological disorders, pelvic surgeries, smoking and obesity.

If you have a combination of these problems, it’s likely that you have mixed urinary incontinence that includes stress and urge incontinence.

Our Houston urologists diagnose and treat urinary incontinence

If you are suffering from any of the life-altering symptoms of urinary incontinence, see our physicians for expert diagnosis. We will start with a thorough physical examination and take a family and medical history. From there, you may need to have urodynamics studies; imaging, such as an ultrasound or CT scan; or a cystoscopy procedure to examine your urinary tract.

Once our team diagnoses your condition, we develop a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and behavior modifications to pelvic physical therapy, bladder training, medications, devices or urologic surgery.

Don’t let mixed urinary incontinence stop you in your tracks. Contact us for an appointment today.