Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options
Incontinence is Treatable
Regardless of the type of urinary incontinence you have, it is likely that there is a treatment option that could help you and your symptoms. Approximately 80% of those affected by urinary incontinence can be cured or improved.* The following is an overview of the types of treatments available.
Behavioral Modifications
Behavioral modifications are just that - changes in your behavior that may help you control your incontinence. These include:
Diet Modifications
Patients with urinary incontinence are often directed to watch their intake of caffeine and spicy foods. However, it is important that patients do not reduce their fluid intake.
Used for: Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, and Mixed Incontinence
Scheduled Toileting
The incontinent patient is prompted to use the bathroom every 2-4 hours.
Used for: frail, elderly, bedridden or Alzheimer's patients.
Bladder Training
Bladder Training involves scheduled toileting in which the length of time between bathroom visits is gradually increased.
Used for: Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, and Mixed Incontinence
Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation
Pelvic floor exercises, commonly referred to as Kegel exercises, are often recommended. Depending on the severity of a patient's symptoms, Kegel exercises may be combined with:
- Pelvic muscle stimulation - mild electrical stimulation to help automate the process of performing Kegel exercises. Stimulation is generally applied using a home-use device.
- Biofeedback - a process using visual or auditory signals to assist targeting the correct muscle during exercise.
Used for: Stress Urinary Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, and Mixed Incontinence
Drug Therapy
Some types of urinary incontinence may be treated with drugs that affect the bladder and urethral muscles, thereby preventing leakage. In the case of Overflow Incontinence, alpha blockers may be prescribed to relax striated and smooth muscle, decreasing urethral resistance and relieving symptoms. Hormone therapy, such as estrogen creams, may also be effective in helping to improve pelvic floor muscle function.
Used for: Stress Urinary Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, and Mixed Incontinence and Overflow Incontinence
Outpatient Neuromodulation
Outpatient neuromodulation with the Urgent PC Neuromodulation System uses the tibial nerve to target the nerves in the spinal cord that control pelvic floor function, thereby affecting a patient's symptoms. This type of neuromodulation is also known as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS).
Neuromodulation using Urgent PC:
- Delivered through a small needle in your ankle
- Targets the nerves that control bladder function
- 60-80% of patients respond to the therapy*
- Reduces the number of bathroom visits during the day and at night and the number of incontinence episodes*
May be used for: Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, and Mixed Incontinence
>NICE guidance for using PTNS in OAB treatment
* Response rates in clinical studies generally range from 60-80%. Results vary; not all patients respond the same.
Surgical Treatment
In most cases, surgery is considered to treat incontinence only when less invasive treatment options aren't working. Surgical options vary greatly, with some of the most common surgical options for incontinence being minimally-invasive. Many are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you receive treatment and are able to go home the same day!
Implantation of Macroplastique is performed as a minimally invasive procedure and is used to treat most types of urinary incontinence.
Stress Urinary Incontinence is often treated with a minimally-invasive "sling" procedure. Implantation of an artificial sphincter is a major surgical operation that is reserved for those patients with the worst incontinence.
Used for: Stress Urinary Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, Mixed Incontinence and Overflow Incontinence
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