Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Female Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Turkey

Although urinary incontinence is a common problem, most women find it embarrasing that they are leaking urine without knowing it and do not apply to a physician for this treatable condition. It decreases the quality of life and may increase to a socially intolerable level in time.

Women are more prone to have urinary incontince than men, because their pelvic muscles are affected by pregnancy, child birth and menaopause. Another reason is that the urethra is shorter in women and the surrounding muscles that control urination are weaker.

However female urinary incontinence management can succesfully be done after initial evaluation and most of the time simple measures may be adequate.

Reasons of Urinary Incontinence

There are several conditions which cause urinary incontinence such as:

• Pregnancy,
• Childbirth,
• Menopause,
• Obesity,
• Chronic constipation,
• Surgery such as hysterectomy,
• Side effect of certain medications,
• Too much caffeine consumption,
• Urinary tract infections.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are mainly four types of female urinary incontinence:

• Urge incontinence,
• Stress incontinence,
• Mixed incontinence,
• Overflow incontinence.

What is urge incontinence?

In urge urinary incontinence, there is a sudden intense urge to urinate and the bladder muscles contract rapidly to excrete urine from the bladder. The fequency of bathroom visits are increased even through the night. It may happen during sleep, after drinking even small amount of fluids, touching water or hearing the sound of water flow.

It may be caused by urinary tract infections, neurological disorders (such as Multiple sclerosis, stroke or Parkinson’s disease) or diabetes.

Female urinary incontinence medications may be necessary for this group of patients.

What is Stress Urinary Incontintinence?

In stress urinary incontinence, laughing, coughing, sneezing, running or heavy lifting may exert pressure on the bladder that causes sudden involuntary loss of urine. It is also known as anatomic urinary incontinence because of the anatomic defect in the pelvic floor and disturbed urethrovesical angle.

Pelvic floor muscles and fascia may get weaker in time by menopausal hormonal changes, aging, childbirth, obesity or heavy lifting which is called pelvic relaxation. The bladder may herniate into the vagina through the fascial defect in the anterior vaginal wall which is called a cystocele.

This may change the normal angle of the urethral outlet from the bladder. Muscles controlling the outflow of urine from the urethra are weakened so that pressure on the bladder can cause involuntary leakage of urine.

What is mixed urinary incontinence?

In some patients both urge and stress urinary incontinence may be present together, this known as mixed urinary incontinence. These patients lose urine involuntarily with a sudden urge and with coughing, sneezing, laughing.

What is overflow incontinence?

The bladder does not empty completely so that the remaining urine causes the bladder to become distended again and the patient to leak urine between bathroom visits.This is known as overflow urinary incontinence.

How is the diagnosis of urinary incontinence made?

Differential diagnosis of urinary incontinence may be made by:

• Detailed patient history,
• Urine diary-Patients may be asked to record the times of voluntary urination, urine amount, incontinence and fluid intake for a few days,
• Bladder stress test during pyhsical examination-the patient is asked to cough to see if there is any leakage of urine,
• Q tip test-to check for hypermobility of the urethra with pressure,
• Bladder catheterisation-may be needed to see if there is any residual urine left in the bladder,
• Ultrasound to visualise the urinary system,
• Urine test and culture to check for infection or kidney stones,
• Urodynamic testing is an advanced test that checks for bladder pressure and contactions and urine flow,
• Cystoscopy is an advanced test to check the inside of the bladder with a camera inserted through the urethra,
• Advanced tests such as urodynamic testing and cystoscopy are not routinely used in every patient for diagnosis.

How do you fix urinary incontinence naturally?

Urinary incontinence can be treated naturally in some patients. There are some simple measures that can be taken as a first line step in the management of female urinary incontince such as:

• Using the bathroom regularly to empty the bladder,
• Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing constipation and bladder training,
• Kegel exercizes-kegel exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles of bladder sphincter. The sphincter muscles can easily be felt during urination when you try to stop urine flow. They can be contracted and relaxed during the day for about 5-10 minutes. The more the exercises are repeated, the stronger they will become.

Is there female urinary incontinence homeopathic treatment?

There is no homeopathic treatment that has been proven scientificly to treat female urinary incontinence.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Urinary Incontinence

There may be some non-surgical treatment alternatives recommended by your doctor as an alternative to surgery for the management of female urinary incontinence such as:

• Medications: Anticholinergic medications to decrease involuntary bladder muscle contractions in patients with urge and mixed urinary incontinence,
• Biofeedback: This method aims to give the patient control over the bladder muscles,
• Neuromodulation: A device is used to stimulate the nerves to the bladder,
• Injections: Injection of bulky agents around the bladder neck and urethra for support.

Surgical Treatment of Urinary Incontinence: Female Stress Incontinence Treatment

Surgical treatment may be recommended for patients with stress (anatomic) urinary incontinence. There are mainly two types of surgical procedures:

• Retropubic suspension,
• Sling procedures-synthetic tapes or vaginal tissue placed through a vaginal small incision may be used to support the bladder neck.

How is retropubic suspension surgery performed?

Retropubic suspension surgery is an abdominal surgery which can be performed through an incision made in the lower abdomen (belly).

This type of surgery is known as open surgery (laparatomy). It can also be performed as a closed surgery (laparoscopy) Sutures are used to elevate the bladder neck up and are attached to a ligament (Cooper’s ligament) next to the pubic bone. This surgery is known as the Burch Procedure.

How is the sling procedure performed?

The sling procedure is the placement of vaginal tissue or synthetic mesh as a hammock below the urethra through an incision on the anterior vaginal wall. The sling supports the bladder neck so that there is no leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing or exercise.

It is less invasive than the retropubic suspension surgery because no abdominal incisions are necessary.

FAQ's about Female Urinary Incontinence:

Can female incontinence be corrected? Can urinary incontinence be cured?

Urinary incontinence can be easily cured in most patients by simple lifestyle modifications. The differential diagnosis must be made after a detailed patiet history physical examination and laboratory tests. Treatment may be either medical or surgical.

What is the best treatment for female urinary incontinence? What is the most effective treatment method for incontinence?

The treatment of female urinary incontinence depends on the cause of incontinence. Therefore the best treatment changes from one patient to the other. Urinary infection must be ruled out in all patients with incontinence, since it can easily be treated.

What happens if urinary incontince is left untreated?

The problem may get worse when urinary incontinence is left untreated so that it may be more difficult to treat. When precautions are taken early enough, it may be possible to treat patients with non -surgical methods.

How do you fix female incontinence?

Female urinary incontinence is treated acoording to its cause. Detailed patient history and examination will show which tests are necessary for differential diagnosis and treatment can be planned according to the cause of urinary incontinence.

What are three treatment options for incontinence?

In general treatment methods can be summarised as:

• Lifestyle changes
• Medications
• Surgery

What is bladder leakage a sign of?

It may be a sign of urinary infection in most cases when it is temporary. However there are many other reasons which can be diagnosed after patient history, physical examination and lab tests.

What is the new procedure for incontinence?

One of the most sophisticated methods of surgical correction of stress urinary incontinence is the sling procedure. Patient's own tissue or synthetic materilas can be used in a sling procedure to correct urethrovesical angle.

How can I strengthen my bladder muscles?

The muscles surronding the urethra (urethral sphincter) can be strengthened by regular kegel exercizes.

What is the over-the counter urinary incontinence medication?

Medical treatment of urinary incontinence may be necessary in some cases, but the medication will be prescribed by your doctor after thorough evaluation.

What is the female urinary incontinence device?

There are some devices designed to help control urine leakage in women with stress urinary incontince. They may be used in patients with minimal to moderate urine leakage. Their use is similar to the insertion of a tampon into the vagina.

How is the treatment of urinary incontinence in elderly female?

Can incontinence be cured in older adults? Urinary incontinence can and should be treated in patients from every age group. The problem of urine leakage not only decreases life quality, but makes the patient unwilling to leave home and socialize. Also continuous leakage leads to skin irritation and discomfort. Treatment method depends on the cause of female urinary incontinence.

How is urinary incontinence treatment performed for international patients?

Urinary incontinence work-up, medical or surgical treatment for international patients can be performed in one of our affiliated hospitals and clinics in Antalya, Ankara or Istanbul. Patients who are interested in having urinary incontinence treatment by our team can contact us through e-mail or whatsapp for detailed information.

• Patients have a free online consultation by filling in a form,
• After evaluation by the physician, they may be asked to send laboratory test results and images of the surgical area,
• Surgery and travel is planned by an affiliated travel agency.

How much does urinary incontinence treatment cost in Turkey?

Detailed patient history and physical examination at the first consultation will be followed up by any necessary tests. After proper urinary incontinence work-up and evaluation of etiology, medical and /or surgical treatment may be chosen. The cost will depend on the hospital, type of surgical procedue and use of special equipment.

Urinary Incontinence Surgery in Turkey Patient Reviews

You can visit the 'Patient Testimonials' page on our website to read the reviews of patients who have been operated by Dr. Burcu Saygan Karamürsel.

She is one of the best urinary incontinence surgeons in Turkey, having operated hundreds of patients from all over the world.

You can get in youch with us regarding female urinary incontinence treatment services and let Dr. Saygan Karamürsel assist you with professionalism and experience. After your consultation, your operation will be tailored according to your specific anatomy, because there is no one procedure that fits all patients.