In Control: Incontinence
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.
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.
How is it Treated?
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.
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.
To learn more on Incontinence, please call us at (574) 295-8805