Specialized Evaluation and Treatment of Mixed Urinary Incontinence in NYC
What is Mixed Urinary Incontinence?
Mixed urinary incontinence refers to a combination of urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence, that co-occur in many women and in some men as well.
Success in the treatment of mixed urinary incontinence lies in first recognizing it’s presence and then addressing both components of mixed incontinence.
Occasionally, in patients with severe stress urinary incontinence, the urge component of urinary incontinence may not be recognized until after the stress component has been treated successfully usually surgically. Successful treatment of stress urinary incontinence can unmask urge urinary symptoms or less commonly cause urinary urgency.
Diagnosis: Our experienced urologists will determine the type of incontinence (stress, urge, overflow, or mixed) to guide treatment decisions. You may be asked to maintain a bladder diary and record fluid intake and volume of urine produced for a few days. A urinalysis and measurement of post-void residual may be ordered.
Treatment: The underlying cause, severity, and type of incontinence determine the appropriate treatment for incontinence. Bladder training exercises, double voiding, scheduling trips to the toilet, and dietary modifications are some of the treatment modalities for incontinence. Kegel exercises are especially effective in women with stress incontinence and may also help women with urge incontinence. Pharmacological treatment with anticholinergic drugs, Myrbetriq, and alpha blockers may be prescribed. Postmenopausal women may benefit from topical estrogen for incontinence. Other treatment options include pessary insertion, Botox injections, nerve stimulators, and surgery (sling procedure, prolapse surgery, bladder neck suspension). Talk to board-certified urologists at our offices in New York City today for effective incontinence treatment in women.
Prevention: Excess body weight places pressure on the urinary bladder and surrounding muscles, weakening them and causing urine leakage with coughing and sneezing. Tobacco smoking is also a risk factor for incontinence. Maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding smoking, caffeine, and excessive alcohol are good preventative measures for incontinence. A fiber-rich diet to prevent constipation is also a good idea. Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen the muscles and reduce symptoms.
If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, please contact us or call: 646-663-4151
Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a board-certified urologist in NYC who specializes in treating men and women with urinary problems including frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, urinary urgency and incontinence.