27 Feb Ask Jennifer: Urinary Incontinence and Single-Incision Sling
Jennifer’s Story.
When Jennifer found her bladder leakage getting worse, she didn’t know what to do. She worked every day at Female Urology Associates of Nashville to help women with the same issues she was now facing, but she wasn’t sure where to begin. At 40 years old and with three kids, she couldn’t believe she was having bladder issues. Thinking this was only a problem for older women, she suffered in silence. Until finally, enough was enough. Urinary incontinence and bladder leakage had been holding Jennifer back from important moments in her life, and she was anxious and embarrassed by leakage throughout her day. Then, she talked with her doctor about the Single-Incision Sling, and her life changed for the better.
“If I had known how easy it would be, I would have done it a long time ago! I thought bladder leakage was only a problem for older women, and I didn’t know where to turn. It really started to hold me back from moments in my life—like simply jumping on a trampoline with my kids—and I was constantly worrying. After my Single-Incision Sling treatment, I was back to normal the next day.”-Jennifer, Single-Incision Sling patient
Ask Jennifer: Urinary Incontinence
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence refers to the inability to hold urine, which can range from small drops of urine loss to complete bladder emptying. Almost 57% of women from ages 40-60 report urinary incontinence. The main types of incontinence are stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence and mixed urinary incontinence.
Stress urinary incontinence is bladder leakage that occurs when there is pressure on the bladder. For example, some of the most common stressors include coughing, sneezing, laughing or jumping. Stress incontinence can have many causes, including age, race, genetics, lifestyle, childbirth, hysterectomy, pelvic injuries and more.
Overactive bladder refers to the sudden urge to urinate, followed by leakage. Bladder leakage occurs when the bladder muscle squeezes too often, even when the bladder isn’t full. This condition affects many women of all ages and causes can vary; however, menopause, nervous system diseases, or a history of lower back injury or surgery often experience overactive bladder.
What should I do if I have urinary incontinence or bladder leakage?
Contrary to popular belief, urinary incontinence happens to women of all ages. If you have bladder leakage problems, you should see a board-certified urologist to discuss your options. A trained urologist can diagnose your specific type of incontinence and any other urologic issues you may be experiencing. After talking through your symptoms, we can recommend a treatment that works best for you and your lifestyle.
How do you treat urinary incontinence?
Treatment depends on the type of leakage. Stress incontinence can be treated non-surgically by improving collagen in the area, pelvic floor physical therapy and other techniques. However, sling procedures are the gold standard treatment for stress incontinence and have been effectively used since 1995. While older sling methods could be complex, the single-incision sling is a short, outpatient treatment using a one inch incision resulting in minimal recovery time. Female Urology of Nashville is an all-female FPMRS led urology practice offering the region’s leading urological care and advanced treatment for urinary incontinence, including the Single-Incision Sling.
Fast relief—no embarrassment required.
Treat your Urinary Incontinence. Not all urinary incontinence is the same, and treatment will depend on whether you have stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder or other underlying causes. If you have bladder leakage, you should see a board-certified urologist, who can help you understand your treatment options. The Single-Incision Sling allows for quick treatment and recovery, letting you get back to living your life. Schedule an appointment today!
Do you have questions for Jennifer? Send them to us at questions@funurology.com.
Female Urology of Nashville is an all-female, FPMRS-led urology practice offering the region’s leading urological care and advanced treatment for urinary incontinence. As the region’s recognized leaders in female urology, Drs. Abel, Allen and Scarpero have a combined expertise of nearly 40 years. To learn more, please call 615-678-5544.