Incontinence

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the loss of control over the contents of your bladder or bowel. Urinary incontinence is common in women. Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are health events that may weaken the pelvic floor muscles.

The pelvic floor muscles are like a hammock, supporting the uterus, bowel, bladder, and urethra. Your urinary system has to work harder to hold in urine when the pelvic muscles weaken. This type of stress leads to urine leakage. 

What are the types of incontinence?

There are many types of incontinence. The most common types of urinary incontinence that affect women include:

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is the most common type, causing urine leakage when there’s pressure or stress on your bladder. With this type of incontinence, sneezing, coughing, or exercising may cause you to lose small amounts of urine.

Urge incontinence

With urge incontinence, or overactive bladder (OAB), you lose urine because you have an intense, unexpected urge to urinate that makes it impossible to hold in urine until you reach the bathroom. 

Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence is when you leak urine because you’re making more urine than your bladder can hold.

Functional incontinence

Functional incontinence occurs because of a physical problem that makes it harder for you to get to the bathroom, such as a disability.

When should I seek professional help for incontinence?

You should seek professional help for your incontinence at Women's Care of Beverly Hills as soon as you notice changes in bladder habits or function. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can return to doing what you love.

Incontinence isn’t inevitable and is treatable. During your visit, the team at Women's Care of Beverly Hills conducts a thorough examination to determine incontinence type and underlying cause.

What are the treatments for incontinence?

The Women's Care of Beverly Hills team customizes treatments for incontinence based on type, symptoms, and medical history. Women's Care of Beverly Hills offers many innovative treatments for incontinence, including:

• Votiva®
• Emsella®
• VTone
• Morpheus8V

The team also provides referrals for behavioral therapy to help improve bladder control and pelvic floor muscle strength. When appropriate, the team may recommend surgical interventions to support bladder function.

Don’t let your incontinence affect how you live your life. Call Women's Care of Beverly Hills or schedule an appointment online today.