Understanding Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

WHAT IS INCONTINENCE?

Incontinence is the involuntary release of urine.

It affects 1 out of every 3 women, and 10-30% of men. Types of incontinence include urge incontinence (the inability to hold urine when you have the urge to go), stress incontinence (leaking when you sneeze, cough, laugh or exercise) and mixed urinary incontinence.

WHAT CAUSES INCONTINENCE?

Age, childbirth, the number of pregnancies, obesity and other factors contribute to urinary incontinence. BUT – urinary incontinence is NOT an inevitable consequence of aging!

WHEN SHOULD I SEEK TREATMENT?

The surprising thing is that many people do not seek treatment or even discuss their condition with a medical provider.

·         DON’T WAIT! - As collagen decreases with age, this affects the ability to hold urine and vaginal elasticity. If urinary incontinence affects your daily activities and enjoyment, now is the time to seek treatment.

WHAT ARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Therapy and Surgical options include

·         Pelvic floor therapy – pelvic floor therapy may be a great place to start for some people. This type of therapy can address pelvic pain, urinary urgency and frequency, urinary and fecal incontinence, as well as sexual dysfunction. A pelvic floor therapist can isolate muscles to promote strengthening and help to correct dysfunction to improve sexual satisfaction as well as incontinence.

·         Surgical Intervention and Devices- such as a bladder sling and a pessary for women.

Non-Invasive and Non-Surgical Treatments

·         Emsella – This is an FDA approved device for urinary incontinence. It is a comfortable and convenient procedure that involves sitting on a special chair, fully-clothed, for half-an-hour. During a single session, Emsella is said to be equivalent to performing 10,000 kegel exercises. Many patients report improved control of urinary leakage, increased sexual responsiveness and increased vaginal tone.

·         Viveve – One session - One hour - No downtime. Viveve is a non-surgical option that uses a patented radiofrequency device to stimulate the body’s own natural collagen production. As the female body ages, the vagina can experience issues such as dryness,

urinary incontinence, pain during intercourse, and vaginal laxity. Thankfully, Viveve is here to help.

HOW DO I START?

If you are interested in convenient, comfortable, non-surgical options, START  by scheduling a consult to discuss how incontinence is affecting your daily life!

At Spruce Medispa, we offer Emsella and Viveve treatments. A series of 6 treatments on Emsella is recommended – 2 times a week for 3 weeks – and lasts approximately 6 months to a year. The Viveve treatment takes one hour and lasts on average 1-2 years. It is well-tolerated and no anesthetic is needed. Depending on your starting level of dysfunction and desired improvement, ONE or BOTH options may be good for you. Especially for those who want maximum improvement in minimum time.