Incontinence

Urinary incontinence  (any involuntary leakage of urine) can be a common and distressing problem that can profoundly impact quality of life. Bladder symptoms are much more common in women than men, and more common in older women than younger women. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition. Different types of incontinence include, stress, urge, mixed and overflow.

Workup

Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy is a simple office procedure that allows us to look at areas inside the urethra and bladder through a small scope that usually do not show up well on X-rays. We perform this procedure to look for foreign bodies, stones, tumors, bleeding, and infection inside the bladder. Cystoscopy can also be used to treat some bladder problems and may eliminate the need for more extensive surgery. This can be done in the office or as a day surgery.

Urodynamics

This is a term that describes a series of diagnostic tests used to show how your bladder functions. It involves placing a pressure sensitive catheter in the bladder which measures pressures during filling and emptying of the bladder. These tests will provide answers to clinical questions that arise about a patient’s bladder and outlet function if they are suffering from specific complaints such as incontinence, urgency, pain, slow stream, frequency, hesitancy and other urinary problems.

Treatment

Treatment options range from conservative treatment, behavior management, neuromodulation (Interstim, PTNS), bladder retraining, pelvic floor therapy, medications and surgery.

Sling Procedures

We are able to perform this procedure for women with severe stress incontinence caused by weak sphincter muscles.