Despite the large number of women in the US affected by urinary incontinence, there still seems to be a bit of hesitation when it comes to discussing this condition. Thankfully, urinary incontinence is a treatable condition. Depending on a woman’s needs, we offer several possible treatment options.
At-Home Remedies
Some simple activities and lifestyle adjustments may be able to help treat urinary incontinence symptoms. Performing Kegel exercises can relieve both stress and urgency incontinence by strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor that control urination. Since carrying extra weight can put additional pressure on the bladder, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet can also help. Cutting down on certain foods like chocolate and honey or beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or artificial sweeteners may also reduce symptoms of incontinence.
Medications
Urgency incontinence can be treated with certain medications. Anticholinergics like oxybutynin or tolterodine can help calm an overactive bladder. Similarly, Mirabegron can relax the bladder muscles and increase the amount of urine the bladder can hold, reducing the need to need for frequent urination. It’s important to be properly diagnosed before starting any new medication.
FemTouch™ Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation
We have helped many women treat the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence with FemTouch™ Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation. FemTouch™ can safely and effectively treat the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence by re-tightening the muscles that have become weak as a result of childbirth or natural aging. Since the treatment is non-surgical, no downtime is needed for recovery.
Behavioral Techniques
For women who may prefer to avoid medications or vaginal rejuvenation treatments, certain behavioral techniques like training the bladder to delay urination after getting the urge to go may be able to help. We recommend beginning with a short amount of time (just a few minutes) and gradually increasing it over time as the bladder gets more comfortable. Be careful not to overdo it. We can discuss an appropriate amount of time during an appointment. Other methods like scheduled bathroom trips (instead of waiting for the urge to go) can also help.
No woman should have to suffer through the inconvenience and anxiety of urinary incontinence. By highlighting a variety of treatment options, our hope is to offer a potential solution to every woman regardless of her treatment preference or what type of incontinence they experience. For more information on urinary incontinence or to request an appointment with one of our gynecological healthcare providers, please contact Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett today. Please follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for more tips, news, and updates on our upcoming Health & Wellness events.
