Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing problem that can stop you from getting out and enjoying your life. If you're experiencing urinary incontinence, the board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists at Lenox OBGYN can help. Serving the Midtown West area of Manhattan in New York City, the team provides a comprehensive range of treatments for all types and causes of urinary incontinence. Call their office today or schedule an appointment using the online booking system.

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What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a problem that makes it difficult to retain urine in your bladder. You might experience a small leakage of a few drops, or in some cases, your bladder might empty completely.

A common form of urinary incontinence is stress urinary incontinence. This causes you to leak if your bladder is under pressure. Typical triggers for stress urinary incontinence include:

Coughing
Sneezing
Laughing
Lifting
Exercising

The other main form of urinary incontinence is urgency urinary incontinence. It causes you to have a sudden and pressing need to urinate, often leaving you very little time to reach a toilet.

You could also have mixed incontinence, where you experience symptoms of urgency and stress urinary incontinence together.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is often a symptom of an underlying problem. The most likely causes are:

Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Medication side effects
Pelvic floor disorders
Chronic constipation
Neuromuscular disorders (faulty nerves)
Bladder stones or masses

You might also find your symptoms get worse if you drink a lot of coffee or alcohol. These have a diuretic effect, which means they draw fluid from your body and make you urinate more frequently.

To find the cause of your urinary incontinence, the Lenox OBGYN team conducts a physical exam and takes a urine sample. You might also have an ultrasound scan.

What treatments are there for urinary incontinence?

In the first instance, it's important to treat any underlying health problems like constipation and bladder stones that might be causing your urinary incontinence. The Lenox OBGYN team also provides a range of treatments to help resolve urinary incontinence. Treatments available include:

Bladder training
Physical therapy
Bladder support devices
Mirabegron medication
Botox® injections
Urethral bulking
Vaginal rejuvenation
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

If these treatments aren't improving your urinary incontinence, the Lenox OBGYN team can perform surgery. One option is sacral neuromodulation, which uses an implanted device to send signals to the nerve controlling bladder function.

Another surgical option is colposuspension, where your surgeon lifts your urethra and holds it in place with stitches near the neck of your bladder. An alternative is to implant a synthetic sling or create a sling from your bodily tissues that raises and supports the urethra.

You don't have to put up with the embarrassment and inconvenience of urinary incontinence. Call Lenox OBGYN to schedule a consultation or book online today.