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Are you tired of worrying every little cough or sneeze may result in a leak? Have more conservative urinary incontinence treatments failed to bring relief? Is this issue impacting your daily life and social activities? If so, you may be a good candidate for surgery.
Here at Habersham OBGYN in Demorest, Georgia, Dr. Thomas Hatchett, Britteny Barron, our midwife nurse practitioner, and our top-notch team provide not only obstetrical services but a wide range of individualized care for women at all stages of their lives. We also can help with issues like urinary incontinence and other problems of the reproductive system.
Urinary incontinence, or the accidental leaking of urine, is a common problem that affects anywhere from a quarter to a third of Americans. It strikes women more than men with about 30% between the ages of 30 and 60 suffering from symptoms.
There are multiple types of urinary incontinence with the diagnosis depending on the cause. A few examples include stress incontinence when leakage occurs during movement, urge incontinence that involves suddenly having an intense need to go, and overflow incontinence where leaking results from the inability to fully empty the bladder.
Diagnosis typically includes a physical exam and may involve asking the person to keep a bladder diary. A number of tests are available as well, such as a urinalysis, blood test, postvoid residual measurement, and more.
There are a variety of potential treatments for urinary incontinence. They include solutions ranging from prescription medication to pelvic floor therapy and electrical stimulation among other things. In some people, however, these interventions fail to bring relief and surgery may be considered. Good candidates for incontinence surgery include people who are in good health, have not had a previous unsuccessful surgery for this issue, and do not want to have any more children.
Surgery for urinary incontinence is typically minimally invasive with multiple options available to fit each woman's needs.
The most common type, the midurethral sling, involves using a synthetic mesh strap as a sling under the urethra to provide extra support for it and the bladder neck.
Similar in concept to the midurethral sling, the traditional sling uses a woman's own tissue instead of synthetic mesh to accomplish the same objective.
This procedure uses durable stitches to attach the urethra and bladder neck in the proper position thereby reducing sagging and pressure.
If you're ready to silence the fear of an embarrassing leak and reclaim your life, call our office at 706-229-4718 for an appointment today or book one online to find out which treatment option is best for you.
