Call Us: 
Gynecology
Standard For Patient Care
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Denver
Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is a common problem that affects many women. As you age, you are more likely to develop urinary incontinence. It can also occur after pregnancy and menopause.
The Women’s Health Group is here to help you with your urinary incontinence and discuss treatment options.
Complications of Urinary Incontinence
Damage to kidneys & bloodstream
Anxiety & mental health issues
Overall quality of life
Increased risk for infections
Rapid elderly decline
Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence
The symptoms of urinary incontinence can vary depending on the type you are experiencing. Most people often experience minor urine leaks, while others may lose more significant amounts. When should you talk to a doctor about urinary incontinence?
If you experience urinary incontinence, you know it can range from a minor inconvenience to embarrassing. Talk to your doctor as soon as you start noticing symptoms.
Some types of urinary incontinence include:
- Stress incontinence: You may have stress incontinence if you experience a urine leak after placing excess stress on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, or lifting something heavy.
- Urge incontinence: If you frequently feel a sudden urge to urinate followed by involuntary urination, you may have urge incontinence. If you have an infection or diabetes, you may be at a higher risk for developing urge incontinence. If your symptoms mainly include the urgent need to urinate or frequent episodes of urination either during the day or at night, you may have an overactive bladder.
- Overflow incontinence: When your bladder doesn’t empty completely, you may experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine, leading to overflow incontinence.
- Functional incontinence: Mental or physical impairments might prevent you from making it to the toilet in time, causing functional incontinence. For example, if you have difficulty walking quickly, it may prevent you from accessing the bathroom easily, or you may experience difficulty making it to the toilet in time.
- Mixed incontinence: If you experience more than one type of incontinence, such as a combination of urge and stress incontinence, you have mixed incontinence.
Treatments for Urinary Incontinence
For those experiencing stress incontinence, your doctor may suggest a transvaginal tape procedure (TVT). This minimally invasive surgery for urinary incontinence involves placing a small piece of supporting material under the urethra. This urinary incontinence treatment will cause the urethra and bladder neck to close, enabling you to perform activities such as coughing or laughing without bladder leakage.
Another minimally invasive treatment option for incontinence is urethral bulking. This procedure uses a small amount of material at the level of the urethral sphincter, reinforcing it and restoring continence so leakage no longer occurs. Bulking does not require incisions and may offer a less invasive but effective option for some women with urinary incontinence. Typically, there is no recovery needed after the procedure.
