Urinary Incontinence
Female urinary incontinence (urinary leakage) refers to the involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. It can be a cause of anxiety, social embarrassment and may limit one’s social and daily activities. Fortunately most conditions of urinary incontinence can be successfully managed.
There are two main types of urinary incontinence:
- Urgency (Overactive Bladder) – is most often described as having difficulty maintaining ones urine on the way to the toilet. Patients usually describe frequency, urgency of urination as well as nighttime urination. Urgency incontinence is usually treated with medication, Botox or a bladder pacemaker.
- Stress Urinary Incontinence (cough or activity related) – is most often described as loss of urine during coughing, sneezing, laughing or with other physical activities such as running, jumping, exercise etc. This type of incontinence is most commonly treated with a Burch or sling procedure. These two surgeries focus on urethral suspension and not bladder support. Supporting the urethra is the best way to manage the problem.
Treating female urinary incontinence safely and effectively is a top priority for Dr Jeffery. Here you will find an overview of the diagnosis of urinary incontinence and the procedures available.
DIAGNOSIS
This is the most important part of the treatment and requires skill and experience. An incorrect diagnosis will lead to the wrong procedure which can have long term consequences. Dr Jeffery has been trained in specialsed ultrasound scanning of the bladder by Dr Peter Dietz from Australia. The other test that is often required is Urodynamics. Dr Jeffery has a certificate from the Bristol Urodynamics Course in the UK and is an expert in performing this test. These facilities are available in Dr Jeffery’s office.