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[As publishedin SoutnhwestHealth] Q: I've noticed that my incontinence problem is getting worse as I get older. Is it too late to do something about it?
A: In most cases, physical therapy or surgery (or a combination of both) can work wonders to reduce or eliminate female incontinence.
Kegel exercises may be enough to restore muscle tone in the pelvic floor to help with bladder control.
In more serious cases of incontinence, a new minimally invasive sling procedure provides a quick and safe alternative. The procedure involves using a mesh material to hold the urethra off the vaginal wall. The surgery takes less than an hour, and the patient gets to go home the same day.
Check with your gynecologist or urologist to see if the sling procedure or one of the more traditional treatments is right for you.
—Lynn Osmundsen, MD
More information about the sling procedure
Incontinence is a common problem for women as they age, but that doesn't make it any easier to cope with. In fact, it's often a source of embarrassment for women and not openly discussed. The issue of urinary incontinence is, however, a condition which affects millions of people-men and women alike-and there is hope for those willing to seek help.
Female urinary incontinence is often described as stress incontinence, meaning that the muscles that work to control the bladder have been stressed to the point of being weakened or damaged. This could be caused by childbirth or prior surgeries. Incontinence can also be caused by infection, injury or obesity.
Fortunately, modern medicine continues to evolve with new ideas for treating incontinence. In most cases, physical therapy or surgery (or a combination of both) can work wonders in reducing or eliminating female incontinence. Kegel exercises may be enough to restore muscle tone in the pelvic floor to help with bladder control. In more serious cases of incontinence, a new minimally invasive "sling" procedure provides a quick and safe alternative.
The urethral sling procedure involves using a mesh material to hold the urethra off the vaginal wall. The sling lifts the urethra back into a normal position and puts a bit of pressure on the urethra to help it control the flow of urine. This particular procedure uses endoscopic tools, which require only small incisions to get the job done. The surgery takes less than an hour and the patient gets to go home the same day.
If incontinence is a problem, check with your gynecologist or urologist to see if the minimally-invasive sling procedure or one of the more traditional treatments is right for you.
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