Incontinence Specialist

What is incontinence?

Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary leaking of urine. It’s often associated with the inability to control the urinary sphincter and manifests in various ways. Some of the common forms include:

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is common among women who’ve had vaginal childbirth and involves urine leaking when a stressor is present. This includes things like coughing, sneezing, and laughing.

Urge incontinence

Sometimes called overactive bladder, urge incontinence happens when you get a sudden urge to pee that you can’t stop. You may have only a few moments to get to the bathroom once the urge hits. It can be caused by a change in position, the sound of running water, or after orgasm.

Overflow incontinence

Often seen in men with prostate or bladder problems, overflow incontinence occurs when the body either makes too much urine for the bladder to hold or when the bladder doesn’t empty during urination.

Functional incontinence

Functional incontinence refers to when a person is aware of the need to urinate but can’t make it to the bathroom. It may be caused by dementia, poor mobility, or bad eyesight, among other issues.

What causes incontinence?

Various things can cause incontinence. When vaginal tissue goes through trauma or becomes aged, it may lead to incontinence. It's common for pregnant women, those who have had a vaginal delivery, or women who have gone through menopause or had a hysterectomy.

Other things can cause incontinence, such as inflammation of the bladder lining or central nervous systems issues like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Urinary tract infections and some medications may also make incontinence an issue.

Risk factors that make you more prone to incontinence include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Childbirth
• Age
• Certain conditions, including diabetes and kidney disease

At Logan OB/GYN, Dr. Ahlstrom uses specialized urodynamic testing equipment to see how the bladder, sphincter, urethra are functioning. He may test for the capacity to hold urine, as well as the ability to completely empty the bladder. He may also determine if there’s involuntary muscle spasms or issues with nerves that may cause incontinence.

How do you treat incontinence?

The type and cause of your incontinence determine the treatment course that Dr. Ahlstrom and Marybeth suggest. For stress incontinence, they may recommend Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

If you have other forms of incontinence, they may suggest bladder training, where you learn to delay urination and practice double voiding. They may also recommend scheduled bathroom breaks every few hours.

If this doesn’t resolve your issue, Dr. Ahlstrom may prescribe you medication or medical devices, such as:

• Pessary ring
• MonaLisa TouchⓇ
• Bulking agents
• Bladder slings

He’s also trained in advanced surgical procedures to help reduce or even eliminate incontinence.

If you’re suffering from incontinence, seek help. Contact Logan OB/GYN today. Schedule your appointment by calling or book your consult online.