“Women are often reluctant to discuss urinary incontinence with their doctor out of embarrassment, and doctors do not always think to ask if there is a problem,” says Rui Wang, MD, a urogynecologist on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “So instead of getting relief for the condition, women end up suffering with something that can be easily treated.”
There are two common types of incontinence—stress incontinence where leakage is caused by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or movements such as running or jumping, and urgency incontinence (also called overactive bladder) where you feel a pressing need to urinate. Age, childbirth, and medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity are among the causes of urinary incontinence.
“Both types of incontinence can be successfully treated so you can get back to living your life and not be held back by urinary issues,” says Dr. Wang. “We evaluate each woman and develop an individualized treatment plan to meet her condition and needs.”
A Range of Treatments
Pelvic floor physical therapy, which is available through the Center for Pelvic Wellness at Princeton Medical Center, can help both conditions, strengthening and retraining the muscles that control urinary flow. Medication therapies; behavior modification or lifestyle changes, such as fluid management and diet changes; and office procedures that narrow the bladder opening, relax the bladder muscles, or stimulate nerves can also help resolve problems.
“If problems persist, we have minimally invasive surgical options available, including a tiny pacemaker-like device that is implanted to help restore proper bladder function, or bladder sling or prolapse surgery if the pelvic floor needs support,” says Dr. Wang. “These surgical procedures are done mostly on an outpatient basis, and recovery generally involves nothing more than some discomfort for a week or so. Really, it is a small price to pay to be able to enjoy life without worrying about staying close to a bathroom.”
Decrease your risk of developing incontinence by:
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For more information on the Center for Pelvic Wellness at Princeton Medical Center, visit princetonhcs.org/pelvicwellness. To find a physician affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 1.888.742.7496, or visit princetonhcs.org/directory.