My Incontinence Is Embarrassing: Can You Help?

Nearly half of all women experience urinary incontinence, experiencing embarrassing leakage that can take a toll on a woman’s activities, self-confidence, and her quality of life. 

The good news: Urinary incontinence can definitely be treated. The bad news: Many women are too embarrassed to seek help, or they mistakenly believe urine leakage is just “part of being a woman.”

As a leading New York gynecologist, E. Jacob Simhaee, MD, is invested in every aspect of women’s health, including helping his patients manage urinary incontinence nonsurgically, with a state-of-the-art approach based on advanced technology and research. In this post, learn more about urinary incontinence and the treatments that can help you.

Urinary Incontinence 101

There are two primary types of chronic urinary incontinence: stress incontinence (the most common type) and urge incontinence. A third type, mixed incontinence, involves symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence causes urine leakage when pressure or stress is exerted on the bladder or pelvic floor muscles, which support and control the bladder and urethra. This type of incontinence happens when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or engage in physical activity (even sex).

Stress incontinence occurs more commonly with age as the pelvic floor weakens, interfering with normal bladder control. In addition to age, other risk factors, including pregnancy, childbirth, and obesity, increase the risk of developing stress incontinence. Hormonal changes, too, can cause pelvic floor changes, particularly the changes associated with menopause.

Urge incontinence is the second primary type of urinary incontinence, and it’s often referred to as overactive bladder (OAB). In urge incontinence, you experience intense urges to urinate — so intense, you might not make it to the bathroom in time. OAB is associated with pelvic floor issues, along with risk factors like nervous system issues, urinary tract infections, and certain medications.

Managing urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence involves many personal factors, which means it requires a personal approach to treatment. Dr. Simhaee offers a variety of options to help women find a solution that works for them.

Pelvic floor exercises

Many women know Kegel exercises can help strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, but it’s not always easy to know if you’re doing the exercises correctly or achieving the best effects. Dr. Simhaee uses a special system called FemiScan® to help women get the most benefits from their Kegel routine.

FemiScan uses a slim vaginal probe to measure muscle activity during Kegels, evaluate your activity, and provide feedback to help you improve your technique. With regular use, many women experience noticeable improvements in stress incontinence symptoms within just a few weeks.

FemiLift

FemiLift® uses a special wand-shaped applicator to deliver precise bursts of laser energy directly to the walls of the vaginal canal. These bursts stimulate natural healing responses, including collagen development, restoring firmness and elasticity in the vaginal walls. FemiLift is ideal for menopausal women experiencing urinary incontinence associated with vaginal atrophy.

Morpheus8V

Morpheus8V® uses a similar approach, but rather than focusing on laser energy, this system delivers measured pulses of radiofrequency (RF) energy deep into the vaginal tissues via tiny microneedles. This unique approach creates tiny areas of controlled damage that, in turn, trigger collagen production, restoring tonicity for better bladder support and relief of urinary incontinence symptoms.

Urgent PC

Urgent® PC targets urge incontinence. In this treatment, a tiny electrode is inserted into your ankle. The electrode sends electrical signals to the nerves that control your bladder, reducing OAB episodes. Each weekly treatment session takes about half an hour, and most women experience significant benefits within 6-12 weeks.

Find relief for your incontinence symptoms

Don’t let your urinary incontinence symptoms interfere with your quality of life. To learn how we can help you find a solution that works for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Simhaee and his team at his Manhasset and Forest Hills, New York, practices today.