The Urology Center Glossary terms

Incontinence (Women)

Urinary incontinence implies unwanted and unintentional leakage or loss of urine producing wet clothing, wet undergarments, wet absorbent pads or wet diapers. Millions of Americans have this problem and the majority of them are women. The total financial cost of this problem is colossal with more than 16 billion dollars spent annually in the U.S. Unfortunately, most of this expenditure goes for pads and diapers and only a small portion of these dollars are used for treatments which have been shown to cure the problem. This socially stigmatizing problem is treatable in all cases and curable in most!

This socially stigmatizing problem is treatable in all cases and curable in most!

Millions of women silently endure continuously wet undergarments or pads. A rash may develop; the adult equivalent of diaper rash. Affected women are often concerned about the continuous odor of leaking urine which makes them uneasy near other people that might detect the odor. Incontinence is associated with urinary tract infections, falls, fractures, embarrassment, stigmatization, depression and risk of institutionalization. Some women even become reclusive, refusing to go out in public for fear of wetting themselves when no bathroom is nearby. Otherwise healthy women who become incontinent may find that they are no longer socially, physically or even sexually active and some become progressively more isolated.

Approximately 45 percent of women develop incontinence of urine, however, less than one woman in 25 will seek medical advice. Many women are under the mistaken impression that no treatment is available. Others seek the advice of a doctor, only to be shrugged-off, dismissed or given ineffective medications. Some women have undergone attempted surgical correction of the problem years earlier, yet the problem returns only a short time after the outmoded surgery.

... unwanted urinary leakage is not at all a natural part of aging!

Incontinence may become more common and severe with aging. However, incontinence certainly is not inevitable part of life. That is, unwanted urinary leakage is not at all a natural part of aging! Besides, any age is "too young" to have such a annoying and frustrating problem, especially when effective treatment is so readily available.

Incontinence is abnormal at any age but it is not a natural part of aging. Noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments such as collagen injection and sling procedures are now routinely available and new FDA approved medications have proven safe and effective. Surgical therapy has vastly improved with success rates higher than ever. Now more than ever, women with urinary incontinence have more options available and there is no reason that anyone should have to live with pads, diapers, odor and wetness. A urologist specializing in urinary incontinence evaluation and treatment is the most qualified medical professional for the accurate characterization and treatment of all forms of urinary incontinence. Effective treatment is readily available at the Urology Center and we welcome your questions.

(Please visit our Female Urology Center of Excellence for additional information.)