Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence, or bladder control loss, can range from mild leakage to uncontrollable urine loss.
Causes include:
The main types of incontinence are:
Stress incontinence – leakage while laughing, sneezing, coughing or lifting a heavy object
Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder – immediate need to urinate with little warning to make it to the restroom
Overflow incontinence – involuntary urine release from an overfull bladder, often without urge to urinate
Mixed incontinence – shares the causes of stress and urge incontinence
Causes include:
- Aging
- Obesity
- Surgery involving the bladder or vagina in women
- Surgery involving the bladder or prostate in men
- Childbirth
- Medications
- Diabetes
- Neurologic conditions:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
The main types of incontinence are:
Stress incontinence – leakage while laughing, sneezing, coughing or lifting a heavy object
Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder – immediate need to urinate with little warning to make it to the restroom
Overflow incontinence – involuntary urine release from an overfull bladder, often without urge to urinate
Mixed incontinence – shares the causes of stress and urge incontinence
Urinary Incontinence — Dr. Julie Stewart
Julie Stewart, MD, a neuro-urologist at Houston Methodist’s Center for Restorative Pelvic Medicine, explains the differences in urinary incontinence in women and describes treatment options.
Diagnosing Urinary Incontinence
Tests might include:- Urinalysis
- Post-void residual measurement – measuring the amount of urine left in bladder
- Bladder function tests
- Cystoscopy – accurately measures prostate size and collects more obstruction information
- Cystogram – X-rays using dye reveal urinary tract problems
- Ultrasound
Urinary Incontinence Treatments
- Behavior modification
- Diet changes
- Botox injections
- Pessaries
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Medications
- Surgery:
- Urethral bulking agent – reduces the opening of the urethra to prevent urine leakage
- Sling procedure – body tissue or synthetic material is used to create a “sling” to keep the urethra closed and prevent urine leakage
- Artificial urinary sphincter – a device is implanted around the neck of a man’s bladder to keep the urinary sphincter closed until he is ready to urinate
TREATMENT LOCATIONS
Our doctors at Houston Methodist specialize in managing incontinence at the following convenient locations:
HOSPITALS
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston
6565 Fannin St.
Houston, TX 77030
713.790.3311
Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital
Baytown
4401 Garth Rd.
Baytown, TX 77521
281.420.8600
Houston Methodist St. John Hospital
Nassau Bay
18300 St. John Dr.
Nassau Bay, TX 77058
281.333.5503
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
Sugar Land
16655 Southwest Frwy.
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281.274.7000
Houston Methodist West Hospital
Houston
18500 Katy Frwy.
Houston, TX 77094
832.522.5522