Treating Incontinence

You don’t have to live with the discomfort of urinary incontinence. Help is available, and treatment can greatly improve your quality of life. At Banner Health, our urology specialists work with you to create a personalized plan based on your needs and type of incontinence. 

Below are some treatment options that may help you regain bladder control.  

Lifestyle changes for urinary incontinence

Making small changes to your daily habits can reduce or even eliminate episodes of incontinence:

• Train your bladder: Schedule times to urinate and gradually increase the time between bathroom visits. Most people aim for every 2.5 to 3.5 hours. 
• Empty completely: With a technique called double voiding, you urinate, wait a few minutes, and try again. 
• Go before activity: Empty your bladder before exercise or physical activity. 
• Avoid heavy lifting: This can reduce pressure on your bladder. 
• Manage urges: Stay still, take deep breaths and tighten your pelvic floor muscles to hold urine until you can reach a bathroom. 
• Stay hydrated, but don’t overdo it: Aim for six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, unless your doctor advises otherwise. 
• Limit bladder irritants: Reduce caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, chocolate, spicy foods, high-sugar foods, artificial sweeteners and acidic foods like citrus. 
• Quit smoking: Smoking can irritate the bladder and cause coughing that worsens leakage. 
• Eat more fiber: This can help prevent constipation, which can contribute to incontinence. 
• Maintain a healthy weight: Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can lower bladder pressure. 
• Make bathroom access easy: Keep pathways clear and use nightlights if you often wake up to urinate.  

Pelvic floor exercises for bladder control

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can improve bladder control. Kegel exercises are the most common way to do this. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help you ensure you’re using the correct muscles. 

Other options include: 

• Biofeedback therapy: Sensors track your pelvic floor muscle contractions and give feedback so you can improve control. 
• Consistent practice: You may need to exercise for four to 12 weeks before seeing results and then keep doing them regularly to maintain control.  

Medications for urinary incontinence

Depending on your type of incontinence, your doctor may prescribe medicines to relax the bladder, reduce urgency, or improve muscle strength. These may include: 

• Anticholinergics such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), darifenacin (Enablex), fesoterodine (Toviaz), solifenacin (Vesicare) or trospium (Sanctura) 
• Beta-3 agonists such as mirabegron (Myrbetriq) or vibegron (Gemtesa) 
• Alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), silodosin (Rapaflo) or doxazosin (Cardura) – often used in men because they can help with prostate-related issues 
• Topical estrogen for women, applied to the vaginal area

Medical devices to manage bladder leakage

Several devices can help manage incontinence: 

• Pessary: A removable device inserted into the vagina to help support the bladder and treat stress incontinence. 
• Catheter: Used to drain urine if your bladder does not empty completely. 

Advanced therapies for urinary incontinence

If lifestyle changes and medication aren’t enough, other treatments may help: 

• Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS): Uses mild electrical pulses to stimulate a nerve that controls bladder function. 
• Electrical stimulation: Delivered in the vagina or rectum to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. 
• Sacral nerve stimulation: An implanted device in the buttock stimulates bladder control nerves. 
• Bulking agents: Injections around the urethra help it hold urine better. These may need to be repeated. 
• Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections: Relax overactive bladder muscles. Treatments usually last about six months. 

Surgical options for urinary incontinence

Surgery may be recommended if other treatments don’t work: 

• Slings: Use your tissue or synthetic mesh to support the urethra. 
• Prolapse repair: Fixes pelvic organ prolapse and may be done with a sling procedure. 
• Bladder neck suspension (Burch procedure): Adds support where the bladder and urethra meet. 
• Artificial urinary sphincter: A fluid-filled ring around the urethra that you control with a small valve under your skin. More common in men. 

Absorbent products for bladder leakage

If your incontinence cannot be fully treated, you can manage it with absorbent pads, guards or protective underwear. Choose products made for urine leakage - not feminine hygiene products - for better protection and odor control. 

Change products when wet to prevent skin irritation, sores or infection.

Get help for urinary incontinence

If you are experiencing urinary incontinence, you’re not alone - and you don’t have to manage it on your own. Banner Health’s urology experts can help you find the best treatment option for your needs.

Schedule an appointment online today.