CONDITIONS

Urge Incontinence Overactive Bladder: Control Issues

As one of the types of incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder, urge incontinence also known as overactive bladder (OAB) is a medical concern faced by millions of women all over the world. Specifically speaking, urge incontinence overactive bladder is the sudden urgency to urinate at a time that seems to come without warning, often occurring in a situation where the relief of a bathroom is unreachable or available. At Coyle Institute, we treat patients of all ages and situations for urogynecological conditions such as urge incontinence; and we want the women facing this concern to know that, in coming to us, they are reaching out to a team whose highest priority is restoring them to health and happiness.

Urge Incontinence is Common

Despite the fact that so many women will, at some point in their lives, become incontinent, the issue is an extremely sensitive matter, which means that many women are left feeling alone and vulnerable to the fact that their bodies are betraying them. Urinating frequently is nothing to be ashamed of, however; nor should it be ignored. Rather, it is a medical condition that needs to be solved, and it sometimes can be alleviated without the requirement of extreme measures.

Overactive Bladder: Consider The Causes

The very first step in determining the best course of action, however, is in identifying the cause of the disorder. Just as urinary frequency can be indicative of incontinence, the sudden need to urinate may be the first signs that something deeper may need to be addressed; and because each system of the body so greatly affects another, overactive bladder should not be considered an embarrassment, but as a symptom of another medical condition.

Some of the most common causes for urge incontinence overactive bladder include:

  • Bladder prolapse
  • Pelvic organ prolapse, which often places stress on the bladder as other pelvic organs drop
  • The presence of pelvic floor disorder, which often includes weakened pelvic muscles or even bowel dysfunction
  • Nerve damage caused by strokes, surgery, medication, or disorders including multiple sclerosis or diabetes
  • Weak pelvic muscles, which can be caused during the physical strain of pregnancy, childbirth, or surgery
  • Infection, such as kidney infections or urinary tract infections
  • Fibroid uterus, which can place an extreme amount of pressure on the bladder, should the size of an existing tumor increase
  • Pelvic mesh failure, which may result in the recurrence of prolapsed pelvic organs
  • Cancer, which may include bladder cancer or kidney cancer
  • Obesity, which stresses the body because excess weight in the pelvic region often strains the bladder

Urge Incontinence: Responding To The Call

At Coyle Institute, we have years of experience in treating patients who come to us seeking relief for urge incontinence, and that expertise has given us a reputation all along the Gulf Coast as a leader in the field of urogynecology. Led by nationally renowned urogynecologist Dr. Michael Coyle, we provide the women in our care with a level of knowledge that has gained recognition throughout the United States, but we also offer them a degree of dedication to their emotional health that speaks to our passion to serve our patients and put them at ease.

As we determine the greatest possibilities in finding a solution to the cases of urge incontinence which are presented, we conduct diagnostic tests and familiarize ourselves with the patient’s medical history as a whole. Urge incontinence is, after all, one piece of an even greater puzzle; and as we work to complete that puzzle, we realize the critical impact that each aspect of health can make on another.

Overactive Bladder: Taking Control

Some of the most immediate solutions we may offer in relieving overactive bladder include:

  • Pelvic floor muscle exercises to strengthen the ability to control such sudden urges to urinate
  • Medications to regulate the nervous system and its response triggers and the mechanisms that send signals to the bladder
  • The insertion of a pessary—a soft, flexible device which adds physical support to the pelvic organs
  • Dietary changes to encourage weight loss
  • Surgical intervention, including non-invasive or minimally invasive options such as da Vinci surgery or other types of laparoscopic surgery
  • Botox®
  • Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation
  • InterStim® Sacroneuromodulation

Whatever the cause may be for urge incontinence overactive bladder, such a concern should never go unaddressed. No woman should be forced to live her life feeling the stigma of this commonly experienced condition, nor should she be unaware that relief is available.

Don’t become a slave to the seeming whims and unpredictable urges of your bladder. Give the caring, knowledgeable team at Coyle Institute a call today!