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Urinary Incontinence In Women

Dr. Stephen Beyer

3/27/2024

There are at least over 25 million adults in the US suffering from urinary incontinence (UI). It can occur at any age but is most commonly seen in older women. 

But contrary to what many people may believe, UI is not a natural health condition that just comes with age! In fact, many older adults don’t experience UI at all. It occurs when areas in the pelvic region don’t function correctly or are unhealthy—which means understanding the causes of UIs is important to maintaining bladder health. 


WHAT IS URINARY INCONTINENCE?

The urinary system, which comprises the bladder, kidneys, urethra, and ureters, is in charge of storing, filtering and removing waste from the body. Waste that our cells naturally generate ends up in the bloodstream. Our kidneys clean our blood by filtering out this waste and collecting it as urine. During the normal process of urination, the brain sends signals to the bladder to release the urine and expel it through the urethra. 

Now, while filtering the blood is involuntary, we can generally control when our bladder releases urine. Urinary incontinence (UI) occurs when we lose control of our bladder or the bladder weakens, which may be caused by a number of conditions. 


WHY WOMEN?

The reason why women are twice as likely to sustain UI is because of unique health events such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, which affect the overall stability of the urinary system and its corresponding muscles and organs. 

The types of UI that women commonly experience are the following: 

Stress Incontinence

A type of incontinence that’s often seen in younger women, stress incontinence occurs when there is excessive stress on the bladder as a result of weak pelvic floor muscles or damage to the sphincter due to physical ordeals such as childbirth. This causes urine leakage when one engages in everyday actions, or sudden physical movements, coughing, sneezing, and even laughing 

Urge Incontinence 

Urge incontinence is at play when there is a frequent strong and sudden urge to urinate. In many cases, they are unable to control their bladder in time to reach a comfort room and urine leakage occurs. Usually common in older women, this type of incontinence can be caused by an overactive bladder (OAB) as a result of weak pelvic muscles, nerve damage, postmenopausal estrogen level decline, infections, weight issues, and, to a certain extent, alcohol, caffeine, and some medications. Its causes also include neurological disorders and unchecked bladder infection. 

 

DIAGNOSIS

As with all health disorders, urinary incontinence treatments start with consulting with a health provider. In diagnosing the condition, patients normally go through a complete physical examination to go along with an evaluation of the symptoms.

In some cases, other tests may be prescribed, such as: 

  • Urine test 
  • Ultrasound 
  • Cystoscopy 
  • Urodynamics 
  • Bladder stress test

 

COMMON TREATMENTS

Depending on the patient's medical history, overall health, symptoms, procedure tolerance, and the severity of the issue, the common treatments for UI usually include: 

  • Behavioral bladder therapies (Kegel exercises) 
  • Pelvic muscle rehabilitation 
  • Vaginal insert (pessaries) 
  • Neuromodulation
  • Diet modifications 
  • Medication 
  • Surgery

These treatments have worked for many, but their outcomes will still depend on the individual. Incontinence may sometimes not respond to medication. In some cases, even strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor is unable to solve stress incontinence. 


ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Here at Beyer Functional Wellness, our approach to treating health conditions revolves around the use of alternative and regenerative procedures. These make use of the body’s natural, biological processes to stimulate long-term healing. 

And in the case of UI in women, we provide what’s called the O Shot. From the name itself, one might think this is a medication or drug, but in reality, it’s not. 

The O-shot is a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) solution extracted from the patient’s blood. This solution contains natural growth factors, which are injected into the patient’s clitoral and vaginal areas to initiate tissue regeneration and increase blood flow. Stress incontinence, in particular, responds well to this kind of treatment because the O-Shot can promote regeneration and growth in the pelvic floor muscles or in a damaged sphincter, some of the main causes of UI. 

Each patient responds differently to the O-Shot procedure, but most of our patients see results within 3-4 months.  If you or a loved one are experiencing any urinary incontinence symptoms, you can expect Dr. Beyer and our clinic to help you get the treatment you need!

Dr Beyer is a real human being and a great person-one you can feel comfortable with and trust he’s done ALL HIS HOMEWORK! Been a patient off and on for years and I can’t say I have encountered a Dr quite like him nor his dedication to his work!

H.P. Google

Consultation with Dr. Beyer was more than I expected ! Doctor answered questions thoroughly and then some . Very personable, professional and knowledgeable. I came in for information on Alpha 2 Macroglobulin treatment .Very new for osteoarthritis and other conditions with great results. He then sent me to Rachel to discuss the procedure. Even more information. I will be going forward with the A2M and stemcell after a meniscus repair. I hope to come back with excellent results and reviews!

S.H. Google

We first met Dr Beyer years ago when our son was going through severe back issues. He still raves about how much Dr helped him! Years later I found him again and fast forward to present. I've been seeing Dr Beyer for my back issues for a long time now. Years!! It as times was unbearable. My pain has decreased immensely. I'm very happy with that for sure!! I recently tried the Regenerative Medicine portion of their practice. I had 2 PRP and 1 stem cell injection in my hip and it was given to me by Nurse Practioner Racheal who is wonderful! I was nervous but she really helped me understand everything she was doing, and was extremely comforting! I will say that my back and hip issues have greatly improved. I almost thought it was a miracle!! I still see Dr Beyer for maintenance monthly for my scoliosis. But I do recommend giving the stem cell a try. I am quite frankly amazed. Love the office atmosphere and the wonderful friendly staff that work there! Thank you all 😊 Maryanne

M.V. Google

They explained the treatment and out of pocket cost . Always friendly staff and easy scheduling. I had used this practice back in 2018 and returned in 2023. Would recommend.

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Excellent Staff, all the girls were super professional, they made me feel confident. I recommend them Al 💯

N.N. Google

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