Female Urinary Incontinence - Female Urology - Urology Austin

Female urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine.

Urinary incontinence – the involuntary loss of urine – is a common female urology condition. Female urinary incontinence affects millions of women each day, including teenagers, young women, new mothers, menopausal women, and the elderly. Most urologists classify incontinence by its symptoms or the circumstances in which it occurs.

While there are several types of female urinary incontinence, the most common is stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when a ‘stressor’ or ‘trigger’ causes urine to leak. This might include, laughing, coughing, sneezing, jogging, jumping, or lifting. Another common form of leakage is urge incontinence, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to urinate. Oftentimes, the urge is so strong that the individual will not be able to reach the restroom in time.

Diagnosis of female urinary incontinence

When visiting a urologist, the provider will review the patient’s medical history, conduct a physical exam, and review the patient’s current symptoms. It is also important to perform a urinalysis to screen for infection. During the assessment, the urologist will ask questions about the patient’s lifestyle, fluid intake, and if they have children. All of these factors can influence female incontinence.

A thorough pelvic examination will also be conducted to look for correctable reasons for leakage, such as impacted stool, constipation and hernias. If any findings suggest further evaluation, additional tests may be recommended. A bladder diary is an important tool that is used to evaluate female incontinence. The urologist will explain how a bladder diary is to be completed, and how the information will help them make an accurate diagnosis. By obtaining patient and clinical information, the urologist will be able to diagnose if the patient has urinary incontinence, and which type of incontinence they are experiencing.

Treatment options

The appropriate treatment for incontinence will depend on the type of incontinence that has been diagnosed. Some of the causes of incontinence are temporary and easily reversible, such as a urinary tract infection, vaginal infection or irritation, medication, constipation and restricted mobility. However, in some cases, further medical intervention is necessary. There are several conservative and minimally invasive options available to women including:

Fluid management
Bladder training
Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises)
Medication

When minimally invasive treatment options fail, surgical treatment may be necessary.

If you are experiencing urinary leakage and would like to be evaluated, contact Urology Austin to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Rachel Sosland, Board Certified Urologist at Urology Austin, is interviewed by KXAN TV about common urological conditions that effect millions of Americans. Dr. Sosland discusses the symptoms and treatment options for urinary incontinence (stress incontinence), overactive bladder and urinary retention. She also talks about third-line therapies such as botox injections, InterStim Sacral Nerve Stimulation, and Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS).

Bladder Control Webinar

Dr. Rachel Sosland, Urologist with Urology Austin, presents a webinar titled “Live Without Limits – Understanding Treatments for Bladder Control”. This webinar covers the diagnosis and treatment options for overactive bladder, stress incontinence and urinary retention. This webinar was co-hosted by Medtronic on May 10, 2022.