What is Urinary Incontinence?
- Involuntary leakage of urine defined as stress, urge, overflow or mixed
- Stress incontinence (SUI) is involuntary leakage of urine that occurs with increases in intra-abdominal pressure (e.g. with exertion, sneezing, coughing, laughing) in the absence of a bladder contraction
- Women with urgency incontinence experience the urge to void immediately preceding or accompanied by involuntary leakage of urine. The amount of leakage ranges from a few drops to completely soaked undergarments.
- Overflow incontinence typically presents with continuous urinary leakage or dribbling in the setting of incomplete bladder emptying. Associated symptoms can include weak or intermittent urinary stream, hesitancy, frequency, and nocturia.
![VOTIVA - urinary incontinence treatment](/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/iStock-831468946-resized.jpg)
Stats in the U.S.
- 25-65% in community setting, up to 50% of nursing home patients
- Projected to affect 17% of adult females in U.S. by 2050
- Estimated annual cost of $12.4 Billion in U.S.
Less than 50% of women with bladder control problems report it to their doctors. Why is it under-reported?
- Embarrassment
- Availability of absorbent products
- Lack of information regarding management options and success rates
- Low expectations of benefit from reporting
What are the Consequences of Urinary Incontinence?
- Loss of self-confidence/ self-esteem
- Sexual difficulties
- Lack of attention to personal hygiene
- Reduction in social activities
- Psychological and functional decline
- Overall decrease in quality of life
How is it diagnosed?
- Thorough history and physical (voiding diaries, incontinence questionnaires, medications, impact on quality of life)
- Physical exam (bladder stress test, postvoid residual, Q-tip test, urinalysis)
- May need more complex urodynamic testing
Treatment options
- Key is to assess type and severity of incontinence
- Pads and protective garments
- Lifestyle modifications (weight loss, decrease caffeine, smoking cessation)
- Pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises
- Biofeedback, vaginal weighted cones, bladder training
- Topical vaginal estrogen
- Surgery
- Transurethral radio-frequency collagen denaturation has been proposed as a minimally invasive device-based intervention to treat urinary incontinence. This is how VOTIVA works – come schedule an appointment/consultation today!