Non Surgical Urinary Incontinence Treatments
Non Surgical Urinary Incontinence Treatments
Kegel exercises
Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These exercies can help control stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, fecal incontinence and can help slow the progression of vaginal prolapse. Kegel exercises must be done correctly and regularly to work. If done regularly, these exercises of the pelvic muscles can improve, and even prevent, urinary incontinence.
Behavioral modification
Behavioral modification is education on diet, fluid intake and other lifestyle changes to manage various bothersome symptoms. Dietary modifications including eliminating caffeine in coffee, soda, and tea, and/or eliminating alcohol.
Bladder training
Bladder training is learning to use the pelvic floor muscles to suppress overactive bladder symptoms (urinary urgency, frequency, noturia and urge urinary incontinence). Bladder retraining teaches women to resist the urge to void and to gradually expand the intervals between voiding; and routine or scheduled toileting, habit training schedules, and prompted voiding to help people empty their bladders regularly to prevent leaking.
Functional electrical stimulation
Functional electrical stimulation is a device that can be used intravaginally or externally that delivers a mild pulses to spur muscle contractions, gentle electrical current to activate, or relax the nerves and muscles in the pelvis.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy pressure applied to and released from muscles in spasm to relax them and increase blood flow to the area for healing. Joint and tissue mobilization is a gentle manipulation to help calm the muscles and nerves of the pelvis.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen
Low-dose vaginal estrogen replaces declining estrogen in vaginal and urethral tissues easing symptoms of vaginal dryness, itching and irritation as well as urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence. Low-dose vaginal estrogen comes in a cream (Estrace™ or Premarin™), suppository (Vagifem™) or a ring (Estring™).
Vaginal pessary
A vaginal pessary is a removable, diaphragm-like device worn in the vagina to support vaginal prolapse and/or decrease stress urinary incontinence. There are a variety of types and sizes of pessaries available. A pessary fitting includes two or more office visits to find a type and size of pessary that will work for you.
Urethral insert
A urethral insert is a small disposable device worn in the urethra to temporarily block leakage of urine due to stress incontinence. The device is removed for urination.
Various overactive bladder medications
There are several brands of overactive bladder medications on the market to treat urge urinary incontinence. These medications work by relaxing the bladder muscle. Side effects are usually mild and include dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, dizziness or drowsiness. Changing the brand or dose of medication can decrease side effects. The different brands of overactive bladder medications include:
Detrol™
Ditropan™
Enablex™
Oxytrol™
Sanctura™
Vesicare™
