Symptom relief for urge incontinence in women

Do you frequently feel the sudden urge to urinate? Do you leak urine before you can make it to the bathroom? Urge incontinence in women causes the bladder muscles to contract or squeeze too often, at the wrong times, whether or not the bladder is actually full. When you get that urgent need to go, you can’t wait, causing urine leakage and frequent trips to the restroom, day and night. Often, an overactive bladder causes this condition. Our Houston urologists have the expertise and training to diagnose and treat your incontinence problems.

Overactive bladder and other causes

Approximately 40% of women experience urge incontinence at some time during their lives. The most common cause is an overactive bladder, but there are other issues that can cause urge incontinence in women.

• Diabetes
• Neurological disorders, such as strokes or multiple sclerosis
• Bladder stones
• Inflamed bladder
• Bladder cancer
• Blockages that prevent urine from leaving the bladder
• Infections
• Nerve injuries, such as spinal cord issues

Risk factors

As a woman, you are twice as likely as a man to develop urge incontinence. Also, your risk increases as you get older. In addition to your gender and age, there is long list of conditions that increase the likelihood of urge incontinence in women.

• Having had pelvic surgery, such as a hysterectomy
• Menopause
• Stroke
• Neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
• Diabetes
• Certain medications, including blood pressure medications, diuretics and antidepressants
• Obesity
• Smoking

Symptoms

The most frequent symptom women experience is a sudden, urgent need to urinate. You may also leak urine before you make it to the restroom, and it may be a greater amount of leakage than you would experience with other types of incontinence. Some women wet the bed, a condition known as enuresis, at night. You may feel like you need to go as many as eight or more times during the day and several times at night.

Obviously, these problems affect your quality of life, making you uncomfortable, embarrassed, and less likely to go out and interact with family and friends. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Our Houston urologists can help.

Diagnosing urge incontinence in women

Our highly trained and skilled Houston urologists, and our urogynecologist, start their diagnosis with a physical examination that may include a pelvic and rectal examination. Your physician will determine if an overactive bladder or other issues are causing your problems, as well as what type of incontinence you have. Here are some of the tests our physicians may order to diagnose urge incontinence in women.

• Urinalysis
• Cystoscopy, a procedure that lets our physicians view your urinary tract
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Urodynamic testing

Our Houston urologists expertly manage and treat incontinence issues

Our team can often help you manage your condition non-invasively with lifestyle and management tips and medication. If you need additional treatment, we offer state-of-the-art techniques and procedures, such as nerve stimulation and surgeries, to help you get back to your best self. Contact us for an appointment.