www.flinturology.com
Urology Services, Inc.
G-1121 West Hill Rd.
Flint, Michigan 48507
Tel: 810.232.8888
Fax: 810.232.9190
Email: jbauer@flinturology.com
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John J. Bauer, M.D.
www.flinturology.com Urology Services, Inc.
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Female Urinary Incontinence
John J. Bauer, Urologist
Incontinence is a term used to describe the involuntary loss of urine. Urine is made in the kidneys. The kidneys, which sit high in the back under the rib cage, filter the blood and extract excess waste products and fluid to form the urine. Once made in the kidneys, the urine travels down a tube on each side called the ureter until it reaches the bladder. The bladder's job is to store the urine until it is full and then it empties urine to the outside through the urethra.
Incontinence occurs when the bladder doesn't store the urine properly. In general, there are two common types of incontinence - stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when there is a sudden stress to the bladder, (e.g. coughing, sneezing, running, dancing, changing from sitting to standing) which causes urine to leak from the bladder through the urethra. This type of incontinence is usually not preceded by a sense of the need to urinate. Urge incontinence occurs when one senses the urge to urinate, but before she can reach the bathroom, the urine begins to come out on its own. There are other less common types of incontinence as well.
Stress Incontinence:
Stress incontinence usually occurs because of weakening of the support structures in the pelvis that hold up the bladder and urethra. Childbirth and menopause are two factors that may increase a woman's chance of developing stress incontinence.
During the examination for symptoms of incontinence, the abdomen and groin areas are inspected. An internal exam is done to make sure there is not anything pressing on the bladder or urethra. Office examination may include the insertion of a small catheter into the bladder to check how much urine is left in the bladder after emptying (residual urine). The bladder may also be filled through that catheter to see how much urine the bladder holds and to find out when leakage takes place. Sometimes in addition to the office examination, a urodynamic study may be recommended. During this study the capacity of the bladder and the pressure at which urinary leakage take place can be measured precisely. Similar to the office examination, a small catheter is inserted into the bladder and the bladder is filled to determine its function and to identify when leakage takes place.
We usually manage stress incontinence with a stepwise approach. Kegel exercises are usually tried as part of the initial management. These are done by squeezing the muscle of the pelvis for 5-10 seconds at a time for 30-40 times a day. One way to remember to do the exercises frequently enough is to squeeze the muscles each time you hear a commercial on the radio or see an ad on T.V. To learn how to squeeze the "right" muscles in the pelvis, contract the pelvic muscle during urination that makes the flow of urine stop. Once you figure out which muscle stops urination, that is the one to "exercise". After learning which muscle you need to squeeze, do not continue to do this during urination on a regular basis. Rather do it 30--40 times during the day when not urinating (e.g. riding in a car, sitting in a chair, standing in a store).
Kegel exercises lessen stress incontinence in about half of patients, but the effect may not be noticeable until after 3 - 4 months of carrying out these exercises. Other methods used to help with stress incontinence include vaginal Premarin cream and medicines to increase the tone of the urinary sphincter. Vaginal Premarin cream may improve the support of the bladder and urethra. Some of the drugs that can increase the strength of the urinary sphincter include Entex LA, Sudafed and Ornade.
If the above methods are unsuccessful and when the symptoms are troublesome enough that a patient wants something done, surgical resuspension of the bladder and urethra can be carried out. There are two general types of operations that can be done. One type is done through an incision in the lower abdomen. In the other, the bladder and urethra can be resuspended with sutures through the pelvic and vaginal area. This type of procedure is called a Stamey or RAZ procedure. Alternatively, the bladder and urethra may be resuspended with a "sling" made of fascia (connective tissue), which is secured to the pelvic bone with suture, and bone anchors. Patients are usually in the hospital for 2-4 days afterwards. Because the bladder is sometimes not ready to empty after surgery, a small "safety valve" tube may be placed in the bladder through the pelvic area (lowermost part of the abdomen) and left in place for anywhere from a few days up to several weeks. Complications of surgery can include bleeding and infection, in addition to the other general risks of surgery. This operation successfully stops urinary leakage 90 % of the time.
For some women with incontinence, the bladder and urethra are in the proper place and the problem is caused by failure of the urethra to close tightly. In this case, collagen may be injected underneath the surface of the urethra to create a better seal. This technique, which is carried out on an outpatient basis, can often be done with only I.V. sedation. As many as 75 % of women notice a favorable improvement. Some women require re-treatment within several years if the collagen becomes re-absorbed.
Urge Incontinence:
Urge incontinence occurs when the bladder involuntarily contracts and begins to empty urine. If the bladder had its way, it would contract all the time and never fill with urine. Normally, the bladder is prevented from contracting involuntarily by a reflex. When the reflex doesn't work properly, the bladder has an "uninhibited contraction" and may go on its own. In this circumstance, a patient may feel the urge to void, but before she can reach the bathroom, the urine is already coming out. A common scenario people describe is that when they reach the door of their house, they feel an intense need to go. Before they can get the door unlocked and get into the bathroom, they begin to get wet.
Medications are used to manage urge incontinence. These pills, such as Levsin, Levsinex, Ditropan and Detrol can suppress "uninhibited bladder contractions" and lessen the likelihood of the bladder going on its own. Many times a patient has a mix of both stress and urge incontinence and a combination of the above treatments may be used. Incontinence is a common problem that affects many women. With appropriate evaluation and treatment, many women can be helped.