Stress Incontinence Treatment in Surrey, BC

Stress incontinence is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles or a weakened sphincter muscle, which results in the leakage of urine during any strenuous activities – if you have urine leakage caused by laughing, coughing, sneezing, having sex, heavy lifting, jumping, or standing too quickly, then you may have stress incontinence. Additionally, pressure on the abdomen may also cause leakage, be it a few drops or an entire stream. Normally, your urethra will stay closed until you are prepared to or about to urinate, but when you have damage, stretching, or weakened pelvic floor muscles, then leakage may happen. Some women only have leakage occasionally, but in others it may happen more frequently, depending on the state of their pelvic floor muscles and how full their bladder is. There are multiple contributing factors to stress incontinence, which may include the following: childbirth, particularly done vaginally with multiple births or the use of forceps during delivery; obesity; smoking; injury or pelvic surgery (i.e., a hysterectomy); medications which you take; excessive alcohol or caffeine intake; or menopause.

If you have stress incontinence, then it is important to note that it is not something that you need to live with, as it is a very treatable condition. There are a number of lifestyle changes that you may make that can resolve the issue, and there are medical options for those whom lifestyle changes are ineffective. Some of the lifestyle changes that can help manage or control stress incontinence include:

• Using panty-liners or pads which are specifically designed for incontinence may help provide a temporary remedy to ensure you do not find yourself in an embarrassing situation;
• Quitting smoking is important, as it will decrease your risk factors and may help to reduce stress incontinence, as it can lead to excessive coughing, bladder irritation, and strain, while also being linked to bladder cancer;
• Losing weight and/or maintaining a healthy weight, as obesity can be a cause or factor in stress incontinence;
• You can help control constipation and maintain healthy, proper bowel movements with a high-fiber diet and managing how much water you drink throughout the day;
• You can perform pelvic floor exercises, known as Kegels, to help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, bladder, uterus, and bowels.

For those who are looking for a medical solution to their stress incontinence that cannot be managed or controlled with non-invasive lifestyle changes or Kegels exercises, then there are several options available to you that you can discuss with your doctor. These treatment options can be discussed with your doctor to find one that is right for you, and these may include:

• Bladder training, which involves scheduling the time you go to the bathroom and starts with short intervals and increasing the time between visits which helps to strengthen the muscles and results in fewer leaks;
• Pelvic floor muscle training, which involve vaginal cones or physical therapy to help with strengthening your pelvic floor;
• For those who are unable to do Kegels on their own, electrical stimulation is an option;
• Estrogen replacement therapies which may help with alleviating the symptoms of stress incontinence;
• Vaginal pessary ring, which is inserted into the vagina, putting pressure on the urethra to help reduce leakage;
• Collagen injections, which may help strengthen weakened or deteriorated muscles.

We are conveniently located at Unit 307, 1192 Lansdowne Drive, Coquitlam, BC V3E 1J7. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Coquitlam BC, Vancouver BC, Anmore BC, Port Moody BC, Surrey BC, New Westminster BC, Meadows BC, Burnaby BC, and Belcarra BC.