What are the differences?

Stress incontinence, also known as stress urinary incontinence, is the unintentional loss or leakage of urine with stress or strain. This can occur when there is physical movement or activity present, such as when you sneeze, cough, run, or lift a heavy object. Anything that puts pressure on the bladder can cause the loss or leakage of urine. Due to the delay in the contraction of the bladder muscles, which is usually associated with a sense of urgency, patients with stress incontinence cannot easily “hold it in.”

Urge incontinence, also known as an overactive bladder, is brought on by abrupt urges to urinate, despite having an empty bladder. As a result, individuals are unable to reach the bathroom in time. Urgency can occur when the bladder muscles causes involuntary muscle contractions. In addition, those who have suffered an injury to the spine, brain, been diagnosed with diabetes or been in a serious car wreck, may be at risk for developing urge incontinence.

Mixed incontinence combines the symptoms of both urge and stress incontinence.

What are the causes?

Though there are no direct causes, over time, either as you age or once you have children, muscles and tissues that are used to support the bladder weaken. Normally, you can contract the urge before reaching the restroom. However, with urinary incontinence, the stress that is being put on becomes too much to bear, thus causing a leak.

As mentioned previously, urge and mixed incontinence can be brought on my trauma to the body or some sort of neurological disease. Or, in men, an enlarged prostate or tumor can sometimes cause urge incontinence.

Do I have options for treatment?

Fortunately, Prestige Medical Group has your back. MonaLisa Touch, a minimally invasive, unique laser treatment, is designed to help individuals decrease their signs and symptoms of vaginitis and stress incontinence that can occur pre- or post-menopause.

How does it work?

MonaLisa Touch
The MonaLisa Touch procedure involves using a small wand with a mirror attachment to direct a laser into the tissues inside the vagina. The wand is inserted into the vagina, permitting the lasers to go directly into the tissues and rejuvenate them by stimulating collagen. This helps improve the texture and tone of the tissue. As far as helping urinary incontinence, the lasers will be used to firm and tone the tissues around the urethra that are often the culprit for leakage.

What other options are there?

There are, of course, other treatments available that can be discussed if you choose to schedule a consultation. Physical therapy, as well as surgeries, can be used to decrease your symptoms. In addition, some lifestyle changes can help some symptoms of incontinence. For instance, by quitting cigarettes, adapting healthier food options, or cutting back on alcohol, you could potentially decrease your symptoms.