Women’s Health Month Spotlight

The goal of Women’s Health Month is to encourage women to make their health a top priority. The first step is educating our patients about these conditions so that they can recognize symptoms and seek help. We’re putting a spotlight on some common urologic conditions that women sometimes face, such as urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections, also known as UTIs, are all too common for many women. Symptoms may include pain with urination, cloudy or discolored urine, and frequent urination. Our specialists can develop a treatment plan for you that combines medication and/or home remedies to treat the UTI quickly.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. Patients may experience temporary urinary incontinence from consuming an excess of alcohol or caffeinated, carbonated, or artificially sweetened beverages. Chocolate and spicy foods can lead to short-term incontinence as well. Additionally, some medications, including drugs for the heart/hypertension, sedatives, and muscle relaxants can also cause temporary incontinence. Risk factors including being overweight and smoking, but diabetes can also contribute.

After diagnosing a patient through urinalysis, we then develop a treatment plan specifically suited for the patient. Treatment options include Kegel exercises, medications such as anticholinergics or Myrbetriq, and Axonics (implanted electrical bladder stimulation for women). We also work with patients to determine behavioral changes that can prevent future urinary incontinence from occurring.

For more information on these conditions, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment with a physician, give us a call or request an appointment online.