Urinary incontinence can be an embarrassing problem for women, especially when it’s severe. Fortunately, this problem often responds well to the right type of treatment. Dr. Mayer, MD is a urogynecologist and board-certified gynecologist who provides diagnosis and treatment to women dealing with urinary incontinence and bladder control issues in Beverly Hills, California. He offers conservative treatments, as well as bladder control and pelvic reconstructive surgeries.
Urinary incontinence is a loss of control over the bladder, which leads to a leakage of urine. This severity of this condition varies considerably. While some women experience only mild, occasional leaks of urine with sneezing and coughing, other women have much more serious problems. In extreme cases, patients may lose control of the bladder entirely.
DUrinary incontinence can occur for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of urinary incontinence include:
Some women may also notice an increase in urinary incontinence symptoms because of certain medications, foods, or drinks.
In most cases, Dr. Mayer will be able to diagnose a patient with urinary incontinence based on her symptoms. However, to determine the cause of the incontinence, Dr. Mayer will need to order various tests. Some of the tests he uses to identify the cause of incontinence include urinalysis, cystogram, cystoscopy, pelvic ultrasound, and urodynamic testing.
Dr. Mayer offers a number of different treatments for patients with urinary incontinence.
Dr. Mayer will initially take a conservative approach like Kegel exercises and behavior modifications. He may also prescribe medications to control symptoms, or offer electrical stimulation. When these non-invasive treatments aren’t enough to control the symptoms of urinary incontinence, more aggressive treatment may be necessary. For example, when symptoms are severe, Dr. Mayer recommends medical devices or surgical procedures designed to improve bladder control. In the case of droppage of the urethra and bladder, Dr. Mayer may recommend minimally invasive outpatient surgery for best results.
Some patients are able to control their symptoms with at-home strategies, such as training the bladder to hold more urine, scheduling trips to bathroom at regular intervals during the day, or wearing at home wear protective pads to absorb leaked urine. Women can also improve bladder control by performing Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor. When these muscles are stronger, patients are able to control the flow of urine more effectively. These strategies are effective for patients who want to avoid more invasive treatment, as well as those that are waiting to see the doctor.
Patients who are unable to control the symptoms of urinary incontinence, should contact Dr. Mayer today.
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