Sneezing is so common that most of us don’t really think much about it when it happens. But for women with stress incontinence, even something as simple as a sneeze can cause embarrassing urine leakage and a significant decrease in self-confidence, too.
Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery specialize in innovative, patient-centered therapies for urinary incontinence, including stress incontinence, the most common type of urinary incontinence.
If you have stress incontinence, here’s how we can help you.
Stress incontinence is related to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, the strong band of muscles that supports your bladder and helps control your urine flow.
Even though stress incontinence can make you feel isolated and alone, it’s actually very common, affecting roughly 16% of women overall and as many as 45% of women over age 30.
Age-related weakness in your pelvic floor muscles is a common cause of stress incontinence, but there are other causes and risk factors, too, including:
Neurological conditions can also increase the risk of stress incontinence.
With stress incontinence, many types of physical stress can trigger urine leakage, including:
Fortunately, today there are more options than ever for treating stress incontinence and preventing leakage.
Before recommending any treatment, Dr. Perez reviews your symptoms and performs a thorough exam to determine the underlying cause of your incontinence. Your exam may include special bladder testing to assess the organ’s function and other key variables that can influence your treatment.
Many women with mild to moderate stress incontinence benefit from conservative treatment options, like:
Dr. Perez may recommend these treatments singly or in combination, depending on your needs.
When conservative options don’t work, we may recommend surgery to repair damaged tissue or provide added support to weak pelvic floor muscles. Most surgeries use a minimally invasive approach with very tiny incisions in your belly or through your vagina.
Most importantly, Dr. Perez and our team tailor every treatment plan based on your needs, so you can enjoy optimal results and an improved quality of life.
Don’t let urinary incontinence take a toll on your health and your confidence. To learn more about therapies that can help, call 305-240-6047 today to request an appointment with us at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida.
