Danville Regional Health System - Better Health Magazine Archives

From Danville Regional Health System
Better Health Magazine Archives

Urinary Incontinence

from Better Health magazine, Fall, 2000

New Technologies Aid Women With Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the inability to control the flow of urine, is a surprisingly common problem for women. Joseph M Carbone, M.D., Medical Director for the Piedmont Institute for Continence and Urinary Control at the Danville Urologic Clinic, discusses a new, one-day surgical option for women which may be able to help.

Q. What is urinary incontinence?

A. Urinary incontinence occurs when there is an interruption in the body's normal control of the flow of urine. There are two main types: urgency and stress. Urgency incontinence is marked by Dr. Carbone

the sudden and urgent need to void the bladder. Stress incontinence, which is the more common form in women, is when leakage of urine occurs when a woman puts strain on her abdominal muscles through coughing, sneezing, lifting, or even laughing.

Q. What causes stress incontinence?

A. By far the most common cause of urinary leakage is a weakened, or relaxed, pelvic floor. To make this clear, I often use the analogy of trying to step on a garden hose to stop water from flowing. If the hose is on firm ground when you step on it, the flow of water stops quickly. But if the hose is on a trampoline, you cannot stop the flow of water, no matter how hard you step down on it. Likewise, a weakened pelvic floor makes it difficult to control the flow of urine.

Q. Why does the pelvic floor weaken?

A. Childbirth, obesity or lowered estrogen levels after menopause can weaken the pelvic floor. The good news is that the problem can be treated - so there is no reason for a woman to suffer through incontinence in silence. We have a special therapy program that women can take to learn to control urge incontinence. And stress incontinence can now be treated surgically with a relatively easy procedure.

Q. What's involved with the surgery?

A. We offer the surgery on an outpatient basis. It is minimally invasive; a woman comes in in the morning and goes home that afternoon. New technologies have eliminated the need for abdominal incision. The surgery is performed transvaginally. We attach a synthetic mesh to the tissues, and they use it as a latticework to grow and strengthen. The reduction in urinary leakage is almost immediate, and there are few, if any, side effects.

Proper diagnosis is the first step to treatment for incontinence. For more information, consult your physician, or call the Health Referral Service at (434) 799-WELL or toll-free at 1-877-799-WELL. For comments about our Web site, or for questions regarding the many services of Danville Regional Health System, e-mail us.