Millions of men and women suffer from urinary incontinence, but today, there are plenty of safe and effective treatment options. At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Bamshad helps patients from throughout the Greater Los Angeles, CA, region understand the causes of their incontinence and receive the most appropriate care to relieve symptoms.
Urinary incontinence can develop for different reasons, including the weakening of the pelvic floor muscles due to age or weight gain, hormonal changes, nerve damage or certain types of diseases. In women, vaginal childbirth can be a primary cause. There are four primary types of urinary incontinence:
Urinary incontinence can be diagnosed using different methods depending on the symptoms. Blood work and urinalysis are usually ordered, and minimally-invasive office procedures may be performed to look inside the bladder and urethra and to measure how well the bladder retains urine. Urinary flow and output will also be measured.
Treatment depends on the type of incontinence, the severity of symptoms and other factors, and may include:
Lifestyle changes including weight loss and bladder training techniques may also be recommended. Many patients benefit from a treatment routine that includes different approaches to achieve the most benefits. Treatment plans will be carefully constructed based on the patient's needs, health history, and other factors.