Urinary Incontinence Specialist

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the involuntary release of urine. Under this general term, there are several types of incontinence, including:

Stress incontinence

Your bladder releases urine when it’s under any pressure, such as when you cough, laugh, or sneeze.

Urge incontinence

A spontaneous urge to urinate -- followed by leakage -- marks urge incontinence. These urges may frequently happen throughout the day and night.

Overflow incontinence

This type of incontinence occurs when your bladder doesn’t empty correctly, and you experience leakage as a result.

What causes incontinence?

You might experience incontinence for several reasons, including:

• An infection (e.g., urinary tract infection)
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Menopause
• Hysterectomy

Many of these conditions can lead to prolapse, which is when the muscles in your pelvic region weaken, allowing organs — including your bladder — to shift or drop. This shifting of your bladder often creates incontinence issues.

How is incontinence treated?

If you’re dealing with urinary incontinence, rest assured that Dr. Jones offers several effective treatments and therapies. Which of them she prescribes to you depends on the underlying cause of your incontinence.

Once Dr. Jones diagnoses the problem, she turns to one or more of the following:

Exercises

In many cases, pelvic organ prolapse causes incontinence, which happens when the support structures for your organs weaken. Pelvic floor exercises go a long way toward strengthening your support muscles and can even reverse your prolapse.

Behavioral techniques

Behavioral training teaches your body to release urine only at certain times, gradually training your body to wait in between trips to the bathroom.

Medical devices

In the case of urinary incontinence caused by prolapse, Dr. Jones offers a pessary, which is a small ring you put inside your vagina to hold your bladder in place.

Surgery

When all other avenues have been exhausted, Dr. Jones may recommend surgery to correct urinary incontinence. There are several surgical techniques that correct issues in your bladder and Dr. Jones works with you to find the right one for your situation.

If incontinence is having a severe impact on your life, call Orlando Urogynecology or book an appointment online.