Lexington Landing
2405 West Lexington Avenue
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 295-8805

Elkhart OBGYN - River Oaks OB/GYN - Elkhart, IN

Elkhart General West Wing
1215 Lawn Ave., Suite 110
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 522-0274

In Control

If you have ever had trouble controlling your bladder, especially when you laugh, cough or sneeze, you're not alone. In fact, 50 percent of all women have occasional urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine, and an estimated 40 percent of women under the age of 60 have incontinence regularly.

One of the most common types of urinary incontinence is stress incontinence. In stress incontinence, urine leaks from the bladder when an activity like laughing, coughing, sneezing or physical exertion puts pressure on the bladder. Unfortunately, many women never seek treatment for stress incontinence because they are embarrassed. Incontinence is often a difficult subject to bring up.

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What causes it? | How is it treated? | Surgical solution?

What causes it?

Stress incontinence is actually a symptom, not a disorder. Incontinence is most often caused by pelvic prolapse, or a weakening of the muscles that support the uterus, rectum and bladder. Childbirth and menopause are the most common causes of weakened or damaged pelvic muscles.

To learn more, please call us at (574) 295-8805.

How is it treated?

Strengthening the pelvic muscles is the most common way to prevent further prolapse and treat urinary incontinence. Daily Kegel exercises, in which you contract and relax the muscles of our pelvic floor, may help. This may be difficult for some patients who may require the help of a specialized physical therapist.

Lifestyle changes that can minimize incontinence include exercising regularly, cutting down on caffine and maintaining an appropriate weight. In some cases, a physician may recommend using a pessary - a silicone ring that fits in the vagina to support the bladder.

To learn more, please call us at (574) 295-8805.

Surgical solution?

For women who do not respond to other treatments, River Oaks offers several surgical treatments. the SPARC is one minimally invasive procedure. Physicians use a special adhesive tape, rather than stitches, to lift and support the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. It can be done with regional or general anesthetic and patients can go home the same or next day. River Oaks physicians were first in the area to offer this procedure.

Most women see immediate results with SPARC and almost 90 percent are completely cured of their incontinence.

To learn more, please call us at (574) 295-8805.

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