Urinary Incontinence:
Innovative Solutions for a Common Problem

Some 13 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence, the inability to control urination, with all the inconveniences it brings. Often, people with the condition limit activities with family and friends to avoid embarrassing incidents. Many are reluctant to talk about it with anyone -- even their doctors.

IMAGE PROVIDED BY MEDTRONIC. The InterStim®device uses mild electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve that influences the behavior of the bladder, sphincter and pelvic floor muscles.

"Urinary incontinence affects twice as many women as men, and it tends to occur more frequently as people age," says Edward R. Becker,MD, a urologist on staff at Wellington Regional Medical Center. "But urinary incontinence isn’t an inevitable part of aging."

Understanding Urinary Incontinence

There are several types of urinary incontinence. People with stress incontinence tend to leak urine when they cough, sneeze, exercise, laugh or engage in other activities that put pressure on the lower stomach muscles. A person with urge incontinence may feel a sudden need to urinate and often leaks urine before getting to a bathroom. Some people who suffer from overflow incontinence may find that their urine drips almost constantly.

"Whether patients undergo treatment is a personal decision based on how disruptive their symptoms are to their daily lives," says Dr. Becker.

Talk with your doctor if your incontinence is affecting the quality of your life. He or she may perform tests to assess your bladder function or rule out other medical conditions that can cause incontinence.

Fortunately, conservative treatments -- such as exercises to strengthen the muscles used during urination, bladder retraining, biofeedback to improve control over the bladder and urethra, and medications -- improve uncomfortable symptoms in approximately 50 percent of patients.

Innovative Treatments

To help patients who don’t get better with conservative treatments, specialists at Wellington Regional Medical Center offer several innovative procedures. They include:

• InterStim® therapy --The InterStim device uses mild electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve that influences the behavior of the bladder, sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. InterStim therapy can help reduce or eliminate symptoms in patients who suffer from urge incontinence, non-obstructive retention and frequency problems due to overactive bladder.



• Sling procedures for women -- A woman who has stress incontinence may benefit from a sling procedure. A doctor makes small incisions in the vagina and pubic area and passes a special tape through the incisions to support the pelvic floor and improve urinary symptoms.



• Sling procedures for men -- A sling procedure can help a man who develops incontinence after prostate removal. A doctor makes small incisions and uses screws and sutures to attach the sling to the pelvic bone. The sling helps increase resistance in the urethra and improve urinary control.



• Artificial urinary sphincters -- A man with severe incontinence may benefit from an artificial sphincter procedure. A doctor uses minimally invasive techniques to place a cuff around the urethra and insert a pump in the scrotum. The man can use the pump to empty the urethra.

"The results of these procedures are often very dramatic," says Dr. Becker. "They make it possible for some patients who were incapacitated by urinary incontinence to live normal lives."

To learn more about InterStim® therapy, please call 1-800-664-5111, Ext. 3137, for your free information packet.

Edward R. Becker, MD, is a urologist on staff at Wellington Regional Medical Center. He is an associate of Rafael Lopez, MD, and Damian Portela, MD, with offices in Loxahatchee, Lake Worth, Belle Glade and Clewiston. For an appointment with Dr. Becker, please call 561-790-2111.

Please join us for one of Dr. Becker’s lectures on “Treatment Options for Overactive Bladder” on Thursday, Feb. 23, or Thursday, March 30. Call 561-798-9880 to reserve your place.

Wellington Regional Medical Center, 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 798-9880