Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Bulking agents work best in women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency; it is not likely to help if you have overactive bladder (frequent urination and urges to urinate), an abnormally small bladder capacity, or a bladder neck (the junction of the... Full Answer

Treatment choices for urinary incontinence range from lifestyle changes to surgery. Your treatment will depend on the underlying problems causing the incontinence. But keep in mind that no treatment works perfectly, and you may have to try more... Full Answer

You might be teaching your bladder some bad habits -- habits that can gradually result in urinary incontinence or frequent bathroom breaks. For example, if you routinely urinate before your bladder is full, it learns to signal the need to go when... Full Answer

Keeping a bladder diary is part of bladder training for urinary incontinence. To keep a bladder diary: Complete the information for two consecutive 24-hour periods. Record both day and night. Begin with first urination upon arising. Record... Full Answer

Wouldn’t you bet me a package of adult diapers that limiting your intake of fluids would help reduce incontinence? Well, you’d be wrong, and I’d be going home with a product I no longer need. But you could argue that if you reduce the... Full Answer

Pessaries are devices designed to hold a prolapsed bladder or uterus in place (prolapsed means that it has dropped out of its normal position) or to treat urinary incontinence. Your clinician may suggest you use a pessary for urinary incontinence... Full Answer

For centuries, women have used a device called a pessary, placed inside the vagina in a manner similar to a contraceptive diaphragm. A pessary is designed to hold a prolapsed bladder or uterus in place (prolapsed means that it has dropped out of... Full Answer

An approach for men and women who want to try nonsurgical methods first is to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor through exercise. The strength and proper action of your pelvic floor muscles are important in maintaining continence. Like... Full Answer

When doing Kegel exercises (exercises for the pelvic floor muscles), practice both short contractions and releases (sometimes called "quick flicks") and longer ones (gradually increasing the strength of the contraction and holding it at your... Full Answer

Kegel exercises are internal exercises for the pelvis. By strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, you strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. These are particularly helpful to treat stress incontinence, but they can also sometimes work for... Full Answer