What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine or bladder control. Because it affects millions of people in South Africa, many men and women believe that incontinence is a natural part of aging, and do not feel that treatment is necessary or available. Because urinary incontinence is not a disease, but rather a symptom of an underlying problem, it can be treated. There are many types of urinary incontinence, all with different underlying causes.

The impact that urinary incontinence can have on your life should not be underestimated, as the chances of embarrassment can cause you to limit your travels and social engagement. It can also cause a loss of productivity. These are only some of the difficulties that patients experience with urinary incontinence.

Types of Incontinence

As previously stated, there are different types of urinary incontinence, which includes:

Urge Incontinence – Leakage occurs due to involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle. It is also termed “overactive bladder.”

Stress Incontinence – Leakage occurs with strong pressure transmitted through the abdomen and pelvis, often from straining, coughing, laughing or sneezing.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence – Leakage due to a combination of the above.

Overflow Incontinence – Leakage occurs due to an overflow of urine from a full bladder.

Causes of incontinence

There are many causes of incontinence. These causes include:

• Anatomic variations due to childbirth or surgery
• Benign prostatic hypertrophy (an enlarged prostate)
• Neuromuscular dysfunction due to stroke, spinal cord injury, diabetes or other underlying disease
• Infection and inflammation

At West Coast Urology, we believe that the only way to determine the cause of urinary incontinence is through a thorough evaluation.

Surgery

Patients who suffer from urinary incontinence are able to benefit from minimally invasive surgical treatments to assist with the symptoms of incontinence. Our physicians are able to perform a variety of procedures that are customized to each patient. These procedures include:

• Stress urinary incontinence-pubovaginalis slings
• Urodynamics
• Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy
• Neurogenic Bladder