Stress Incontinence Treatment in Ocala, FL 

Stress incontinence is a form of urinary incontinence that makes it hard to stop the flow of urine when pressure is placed on the bladder. This issue can cause sufferers to feel embarrassed, limit social activity, and it may also affect a person’s romantic life. 

Bladder leakage when you laugh, sneeze, or exercise? You may be dealing with stress urinary incontinence—a common condition that many women experience in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. At Florida Women’s Health, Dr. Kelsey Lipking, MD offers advanced, discreet solutions to help you take back your day-to-day freedom. 

Stress Incontinence Symptoms 

Most patients with stress incontinence tend to lose bladder control during physical activity. In some cases, however, bladder leakage can occur from pressure applied to the bladder while in a sitting or standing position. Most commonly, leakage occurs when: 

• Exercising or doing heavy lifting. This can include walking, running, jumping, etc. 

• Laughing. Laughing can cause muscles to contract and for a person’s weight to shift, which may put pressure on the bladder. 

• Sneezing. The sudden and forceful body movements caused by sneezing may cause a person with stress incontinence to leak urine. 

• Sexual Intercourse. Engaging in sexual intercourse can cause pressure against the abdomen. 

Causes of Stress Incontinence 

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when the muscles that support the bladder and control the release of urine begin to weaken. Women are twice as likely to suffer from stress incontinence than men. In fact, many of Dr. Kelsey Lipking, patients are active, younger women dealing with leakage, because of childbirth. During some births, muscle and tissue damage can occur to the pelvic floor.  

Testing for Stress Incontinence 

For most cases of stress incontinence, the issue is fairly easy to diagnose and may not require any tests. In some cases further testing may help to fully understand the cause of urinary leakage.  These tests include: 

• Urine Volume Test. After urinating, the doctor will determine the amount of leftover urine in the bladder.  

• Urodynamic Testing. The bladder will be slowly filled with warm water, allowing the physician to determine the volumes and pressures at which the bladder may experience leakage. This aids in determining the best treatment options.  

• Bladder Examination. A cystoscope, a small device that can provide images to the doctor, will be inserted into the bladder so that the physician can examine the bladder and urethra. 

Stress Incontinence Treatment 

The first steps to treating stress urinary incontinence are often behavior therapies such as pelvic floor muscle exercises, dietary adjustments, lifestyle changes, and bladder training. There aren’t currently any approved medications to treat stress incontinence.  

Devices 

• Pessary. A ring is placed on each side of the urethra that helps support the bladder.   

• Vaginal Incontinence Tampons. A disposable device is worn at various times throughout the day to aid with support of the anterior vaginal wall and urethra. 

Surgery 

Surgery intervention to treat stress incontinence is typically the last resort when behavior therapies and devices don’t provide adequate relief from symptoms. The goal of the surgery will be to provide the bladder and urethral muscles with adequate support.