National Association for Continence
This national nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with incontinence, voiding dysfunction and related pelvic floor disorders.
Stay active and stay in control of your bladder function
Urinary incontinence is loss of urine control that can range from slight loss of urine to severe, frequent wetting.
Women of all ages can have problems with the muscles or organs in the pelvis that can lead to urinary incontinence. These problems may happen when nerve signals do not function properly from genetic or anatomic factors or because of childbirth, menopause, aging, injuries and medications.
There are different types of incontinence, including:
When your medical or physical condition interferes with getting to the toilet on time, it is called functional incontinence.
Urination eight or more times a day or two or more times at night is considered overactive bladder.
With overflow incontinence, the bladder does not empty properly when you urinate, causing it to spill over at a later time.
Stress incontinence is when urine leaks during moments of physical stress such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or other movements that put pressure on the bladder.
Urge incontinence is when you lose large amounts of urine after suddenly feeling the need (urge) to urinate, including during sleep.
Women of all ages can have problems with the muscles or organs in the pelvis that can lead to urinary incontinence. These problems may happen when nerve signals do not function properly from genetic or anatomic factors or because of childbirth, menopause, aging, injuries and medications.
There are different types of incontinence, including:
When your medical or physical condition interferes with getting to the toilet on time, it is called functional incontinence.
Urination eight or more times a day or two or more times at night is considered overactive bladder.
With overflow incontinence, the bladder does not empty properly when you urinate, causing it to spill over at a later time.
Stress incontinence is when urine leaks during moments of physical stress such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or other movements that put pressure on the bladder.
Urge incontinence is when you lose large amounts of urine after suddenly feeling the need (urge) to urinate, including during sleep.
Loss of bladder control is very common and relatively easy to treat. Do not hesitate to share your concerns with your gynecologist.
Diagnosis of your urinary incontinence problem begins with a complete physical examination that focuses on the urinary and nervous systems as well as the reproductive organs. You will also give urine samples. In addition, you will likely be referred to an urologist (doctor who specialize in diseases of the urinary tract).
Loss of bladder control is very common and relatively easy to treat. Do not hesitate to share your concerns with your gynecologist.
Diagnosis of your urinary incontinence problem begins with a complete physical examination that focuses on the urinary and nervous systems as well as the reproductive organs. You will also give urine samples. In addition, you will likely be referred to an urologist (doctor who specialize in diseases of the urinary tract).
IU Health uses a “ladder approach” to care for urinary incontinence problems. This means that you will start with the most comprehensive, least risky treatment option and move up as necessary to achieve results.
In many cases, treatments are more effective when used in combination.
Treatment may include:
Some lifestyle choices can impact incontinence, such as smoking (chronic cough makes pelvic floor relaxation worse) and weight management (excess weight can exacerbate stress incontinence). Counseling on lifestyle modifications for pelvic floor health can help.
Some medicines can help manage symptoms of urinary incontinence. For example, oxybutynin (Ditropan) may be used if you have bladder irritability.
An in-depth evaluation will be completed by a licensed physical therapist specially trained in the area of pelvic floor therapy. Your care plan will be developed with your individual goals in mind. Treatment may include exercise, postural corrections, bladder re-training, biofeedback and soft tissue mobilization among other interventions.
Botox injections can significantly relax the bladder to relieve an overactive bladder.
Surgery can correct an abnormal opening between the urinary tract and vagina (fistula) that leads to urinary incontinence.
A synthetic or biological mesh can be placed to enhance the effectiveness of pelvic organ surgeries performed to correct prolapse.
IU Health surgeons can place a urethral “sling” around your urethra to lift it back into normal position and exert pressure on it to aid urine retention. Another option is collagen injection to reinforce deteriorating muscles that support the urethra.
A pessary is a silicon device similar to the outer ring of a diaphragm. During a simple procedure, it can be positioned to hold up the bladder, vagina or bowel.
This treatment for bladder dysfunction involves implanting an electrode near the sacral nerve, which helps control bladder function.
When a pelvic organ, such as the bladder, drops from its normal position and pushes against the sides of your vagina, the condition is called pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse can be surgically corrected in several ways: vaginally, abdominally, laparoscopically (through a small incision) or robotically using the da Vinci Surgical System®.
The pudendal nerve is a nerve in the pelvic region that carries sensation from the external genitalia to various pelvic muscles responsible for bladder control. Minimally invasive surgery can relieve pressure on a pinched (entrapped) pudendal nerve.
IU Health uses a “ladder approach” to care for urinary incontinence problems. This means that you will start with the most comprehensive, least risky treatment option and move up as necessary to achieve results.
In many cases, treatments are more effective when used in combination.
Treatment may include:
Some lifestyle choices can impact incontinence, such as smoking (chronic cough makes pelvic floor relaxation worse) and weight management (excess weight can exacerbate stress incontinence). Counseling on lifestyle modifications for pelvic floor health can help.
Some medicines can help manage symptoms of urinary incontinence. For example, oxybutynin (Ditropan) may be used if you have bladder irritability.
An in-depth evaluation will be completed by a licensed physical therapist specially trained in the area of pelvic floor therapy. Your care plan will be developed with your individual goals in mind. Treatment may include exercise, postural corrections, bladder re-training, biofeedback and soft tissue mobilization among other interventions.
Botox injections can significantly relax the bladder to relieve an overactive bladder.
Surgery can correct an abnormal opening between the urinary tract and vagina (fistula) that leads to urinary incontinence.
A synthetic or biological mesh can be placed to enhance the effectiveness of pelvic organ surgeries performed to correct prolapse.
IU Health surgeons can place a urethral “sling” around your urethra to lift it back into normal position and exert pressure on it to aid urine retention. Another option is collagen injection to reinforce deteriorating muscles that support the urethra.
A pessary is a silicon device similar to the outer ring of a diaphragm. During a simple procedure, it can be positioned to hold up the bladder, vagina or bowel.
This treatment for bladder dysfunction involves implanting an electrode near the sacral nerve, which helps control bladder function.
When a pelvic organ, such as the bladder, drops from its normal position and pushes against the sides of your vagina, the condition is called pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse can be surgically corrected in several ways: vaginally, abdominally, laparoscopically (through a small incision) or robotically using the da Vinci Surgical System®.
The pudendal nerve is a nerve in the pelvic region that carries sensation from the external genitalia to various pelvic muscles responsible for bladder control. Minimally invasive surgery can relieve pressure on a pinched (entrapped) pudendal nerve.
This national nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with incontinence, voiding dysfunction and related pelvic floor disorders.
This service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health and provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system.
This organization promotes urology research and education.
This national nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with incontinence, voiding dysfunction and related pelvic floor disorders.
This service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health and provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system.
This organization promotes urology research and education.