Stress Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Stress incontinence is leaking when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or do some type of physical activity like exercising, lifting, or climbing stairs. It’s usually caused by weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles that create a loss of support for the bladder.
Stress incontinence can affect your daily habits such as work, exercise, or time with family and friends.
What Causes Stress Incontinence?
The condition itself can be caused by a weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscle, resulting in a lack of support for the bladder. Pregnancy and childbirth are common causes for the pelvic muscles to stretch out and become weak and or damaged.
Symptoms of Stress Urinary Incontinence
The main symptom is a sudden loss of urine caused by increased pressure on the bladder from a range of activities, including:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Lifting
- Exercising
- Climbing Stairs
Stress Incontinence Treatment
At Bladder & Bowel Institute, we offer a brief and minimally invasive treatment for stress incontinence called Bulkamid.
Bulkamid is a soft gel that is gently injected into the walls of the urethra through a small, flexible tube. This gel adds volume to the urethral walls, helping them to close more effectively and prevent urine leakage during activities like coughing, sneezing, or exercising.
The procedure takes just a few minutes, typically under local anesthetic, and requires no incisions. Most patients can return to their regular activities within 24 hours.
If you feel you may be experiencing stress incontinence,
schedule a consult with us today.