Call Us: 
Women's Pelvic Floor & Incontinence Center
Standard For Patient Care
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Denver
Stress urinary incontinence, or a lack of bladder control, can cause patients frustration and embarrassment. Symptoms can range from leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to the inability to reach the toilet in time when the urge to urinate strikes.
At the Women’s Health Group, we can help you understand why you’re experiencing urinary incontinence and provide treatment, from conservative management techniques to advanced surgical procedures.
What Is Stress Urinary Incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence is when a person leaks urine by accident. Though it can happen to anyone, it is most common in older women. Certain other factors, such as family history or being overweight, can contribute to the occurrence of urinary incontinence.
Some possible causes of persistent urinary incontinence include:
Pregnancy or childbirth
Changes with age
Menopause
Obstructions, such a tumors
Neurological disorders
Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence may be uncomfortable to discuss, but it’s important to do so to get the help you need. Left untreated, incontinence can lead to skin rashes, urinary tract infections, and even isolation from fear of accidents.
There are several different types of urinary incontinence. They include:
- Stress incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when physical activity or exertion (such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting) puts pressure on the bladder, causing urine leakage.
- Urge incontinence: This type of incontinence is characterized by a strong, sudden urge to urinate followed by involuntary urine leakage. It may be caused by an overactive bladder or other problems with bladder function.
- Mixed incontinence: As the name suggests, this type of incontinence involves a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when the bladder becomes too full and overflows, causing urine leakage. It can be caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract or a problem with the muscles that control urination.
- Functional incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when a physical or cognitive impairment makes it difficult to get to the bathroom in time to urinate.
- Transient incontinence: This is a temporary form of incontinence that may be caused by a temporary condition, such as a urinary tract infection. It usually resolves on its own once the underlying cause has been treated.
Treatment Options for Urinary Incontinence
We approach treatment for urinary incontinence in several stages. First, we begin with recommending lifestyle changes that may alleviate symptoms. These include:
- Fluid restriction, especially prior to activity
- Limiting trigger activities, such as heavy lifting, jump roping, trampolining, and more
- Urinating prior to strenuous activity
- Pelvic floor exercises
If these measures don’t offer relief, we will complete a more in-depth pelvic exam, sometimes using colposcopy, and consider advanced therapy options. Our advanced therapy options include:
- Bulkamid: This treatment uses a urethral bulking agent to relieve stress urinary incontinence without invasive surgery. Bulkamid works by adding additional volume to the wall of the urethra, helping to prevent urine from leaking out of the bladder during normal daily activities.
- Mesh or Autologous Sling Surgery: This procedure uses a surgically-placed sling that acts as a hammock to prevent leakage with activity. It has a 99 percent success rate with patients.
