Urinary Incontinence

If you experience urine leaks at inopportune times and need symptom relief, see the experts at Maximos OB/GYN in League City, Texas. Board-certified physician Bassem Maximos, MD, MPH, FACOG, and his experienced staff offer treatments for urinary incontinence to reduce the risk of embarrassing accidents. Call the Maximos OB/GYN office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a medical condition that affects your bladder, causing urine leaks and the embarrassment that often accompanies it. You might occasionally leak urine when you jump, sneeze, cough, or experience sudden urges to urinate. Fortunately, Maximos OB/GYN treatments offer relief from bothersome urinary incontinence symptoms.

What are the different types of urinary incontinence? 

The common types of urinary incontinence include:

• Urge incontinence: intense, sudden urges to urinate with leaking urine
• Stress incontinence: urine leaks when laughing, sneezing, exercising, or coughing
• Functional incontinence: mental or physical impairments that cause urine leaks
• Overflow incontinence: dripping of urine due to incomplete emptying of your bladder
• Mixed incontinence: combinations of more than one type of urinary incontinence 

When left untreated, urinary incontinence can cause rashes, skin infections, sores, urinary tract infections (UTIs), embarrassment, and problems at work or in relationships. 

What increases my risk of urinary incontinence?

The causes and risk factors of developing urinary incontinence include:

• Medical conditions
• Aging
• Family history of urinary incontinence
• Physical problems
• Some foods and drinks
• Alcohol
• Caffeine 
• UTIs
• Constipation 
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Menopause in women
• Enlarged prostate in men
• Prostate cancer
• Tumors
• Bladder stones
• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Other neurological disorders
• Carrying excess body weight
• Being a woman
• Smoking

While urinary incontinence isn’t always preventable, ways to reduce your risk include maintaining an ideal body weight, avoiding alcohol and other bladder irritants, doing pelvic floor exercises, eating plenty of fiber, and not smoking.

How does a specialist diagnose urinary incontinence?

Dr. Maximos diagnoses urinary incontinence after discussing your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medical history. He completes a physical exam and may recommend a urinalysis, urine output measurements, a pelvic ultrasound, or other diagnostic tests.

How is urinary incontinence treated?

Your personalized urinary incontinence treatment plan depends on the type and severity of incontinence you struggle with. Dr. Maximos may suggest:

• Dietary changes
• Other lifestyle changes
• Bladder training
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Medications
• Nerve stimulation
• Laser treatments
• Medical device insertion
• Injections
• Urinary incontinence surgery

Maximos OB/GYN offers minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgeries for urinary incontinence if conservative options haven’t worked. 

Dr. Maximos may suggest more than one type of treatment to ensure outstanding, long-lasting results. He specializes in laser vaginal rejuvenation, tightening, and laser treatment of stress urinary incontinence. 

To find relief from bothersome urinary incontinence symptoms, schedule an appointment at Maximos OB/GYN by phone or online today.