Urinary Incontinence: Why it Happens, How to Fix it
If you suffer from frequent urination and the feeling that you might not make it to the bathroom in time, you are not alone. A condition called urinary stress incontinence is more common than you might think, but according to Los Angeles OB/GYN Dr. David Ghozland, the condition is treatable with non-invasive, stress urinary incontinence surgery.
There may be many reasons why a woman suddenly develops urinary incontinence, including underlying health conditions like diabetes, urinary tract infections, obesity, undergoing a hysterectomy or even internal pressure from uterine fibroids. Still, one of the most common causes of urinary stress incontinence is having gone through a vaginal birth. The reason is that vaginal delivery can weaken the support system of the urethra and bladder. In a nutshell, less support equals diminished bladder control.
Menopause is another common cause of urinary stress incontinence. When estrogen production ceases, it can result in a thinning of the urethra tissues and weaker muscles of the bladder. Obviously, when the bladder is not properly supported, urinary leaks are much more likely.
There are many common symptoms of urinary stress incontinence, including urine leakage when you:
• Cough or sneeze
• Laugh or stand up
• Get in and out of a car
• Lift anything heavy
• Work out
• Have intercourse
The good news is, urinary stress incontinence is not something you need to live with. There are things you can do on your own such as Kegel exercises to strengthen weakened muscles. Dr. Ghozland says stress urinary incontinence surgery options are now available using FDA-approved techniques that repair the problem without the risks of traditional surgery. Dr. Ghozland uses a fractional CO2 laser to fix the urinary leakage problems. The procedure is done in-office in less than 30 minutes under local anesthesia or light sedation. Most patients are able to return to work within 24 hours.
If you suffer from stress urinary incontinence, you may experience feelings of shame, isolation and depression. You may also cut back on activities you enjoy such as exercise and leisure pursuits. Thankfully, with treatment such as urinary incontinence surgery using non-invasive protocols, you can quickly recover and get back to enjoying life.