Incontinence/OAB

Preventing Urine Leaking and Loss of Bladder Control

How to take control of your overactive bladder and reduce the chance of accidents. By Wendy C. Fries Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD An overactive bladder (OAB) doesn't have to keep you close to home. Whet...

Incontinence Drugs: Benefits and Harms Compared

Medications That Treat Overactive Bladder Offer Modest Benefits and Significant Side Effects By Brenda Goodman, MA Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD April 9, 2012 -- Drugs that treat incontine...

Sex, Exercise, and Stress Incontinence

Workouts and romance may both trigger 'accidents,' but stress incontinence treatments can bring relief. By Kathleen Doheny Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Stres...

At Work With Incontinence

Tips for getting through long meetings and business lunches. By Jeanie Lerche Davis Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Staff meetings, client lunches, customer calls. In your workday, incontinence can be un...

Female Incontinence: The Emotional Toll

Female incontinence is physical, but it can also have a psychological impact. By Kathleen Doheny Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD The family dinner was going well -- until a condition known as female inc...

Urinary Incontinence in Women: Tips for Coping Day to Day

You don't have to just live with incontinence -- simple changes like these 13 tips can help you take control. By Wendy C. Fries Feature Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Like it or not, urinary incontinence is...

Frequently Asked Questions About Urinary Incontinence

What is urinary incontinence and what causes it? Answer: When you are n...

Incontinence and Pregnancy (Incontinence/ OAB)

Urinary Incontinence and Pregnancy Medical Reference Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD During pregnancy, many women experience at least some degree of urinary incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of urine. The incontinence m...

OAB Questions for Your Doctor (Incontinence/ OAB)

OAB Questions For and From Your Doctor Feature By Katherine Kam Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD If your daily schedule is becoming dictated by frequent and sudden urinary urges that leave you scrambling for the nearest bathr...

References (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Citations Dumoulin C, Hay-Smith J (2010). Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Datab...

Resources (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Healthy Aging Overactive Bladder Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence in Men Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and O...

Finding Help (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Organizations American Geriatrics Society: The AGS Foundation for Health and Aging The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Avenue ...

Living & Coping (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Profile: US Speed Skater Bonnie Blair: Pregnancy & Urinary Incontinence Speed skater Bonnie Blair and her doctor, urogynecologist Dennis P. Miller, MD, discuss Bonnie's experience with stress urinary incontinence. US Speed Sk...

Other Treatment (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Other types of treatment for urinary incontinence include: Behavioral methods . These are often the first thing to try. They often work well. They include:Bladder training (also called bladder ret...

Cranberries for UTI Prevention (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Can a glass of cranberry juice a day keep the urologist away? You might have heard that cranberries help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), but are these berries really as medicinal as they are tart and tasty? Yes, there is some science be...

Surgery (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

There are several different kinds of surgeries to correct stress incontinence, which occurs when weakened pelvic floor muscles allow the bladder neck and urethra to drop. These surgeries seek to lift the urethra, the bladder, ...

Home Treatment (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

If you have urinary incontinence, you can take some steps on your own that may stop or reduce the problem. Set a schedule of urinating every 2 to 4 hours, regardless of whether you feel the need. Talk with your docto...

Diagnosis (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

To diagnose the cause of your urinary incontinence, your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. It may be easier for you to answer questions if you keep a bladder diary(What is a PDF document?) for 3 or 4 days befo...

Treatment (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Urinary incontinence isn't an inevitable result of aging. Most women who have it can be helped or cured. The best treatment depends on the cause of your incontinence and your personal preferences. Treatments include: ...

Warning Signs (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Call your doctor if: You have urinary incontinence that begins suddenly. This is called acute incontinence. It is often caused by urinary tract problems or medicines and can be easily corrected. The involuntary r...

Prevention (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

You may reduce your chances for urinary incontinence by: Doing pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles. Staying at a healthy weight. For more information, see the topic Weight Managem...

Symptoms (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

The main symptom of urinary incontinence is a problem controlling urination. Symptoms of stress incontinence: Involuntary release of urine, especially when you cough, sneeze, or laugh ...

Menopause & Incontinence (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Also called urinary incontinence, bladder control problems are a common complication of menopause. But there are many options available to treat them. Understanding Bladder Control Problems in Women ...

Are You at Risk? (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Sometimes several things combine to cause urinary incontinence. For example, a woman may have had multiple childbirths, be older, and have a severe cough because of chronic bronchitis or smoking. All of these might contribute to h...

What Happens (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

Urinary incontinence usually starts gradually and slowly becomes worse. As it gets worse, a woman may: Avoid going out in public because of embarrassment. Become less active. Have physical problems caused by fre...

What Is Incontinence In Women? (Incontinence/ OAB - Women)

What is urinary incontinence? Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It can happen when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or jog. Or you may have a sudden need to go to the bathroom but can't get there in time. Bladde...

Credits (Incontinence/ OAB - Men)

By Healthwise Staff Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine S...

References (Incontinence/ OAB - Men)

Citations MacDiarmid SA, et al. (2008). Efficacy and safety of extended-release oxybutynin in combination with tamsulosin for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in me...

Resources (Incontinence/ OAB - Men)

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Fitness: Getting and Staying Active Overactive Bladder Prostate Cancer Prostatitis ...

Finding Help (Incontinence/ OAB - Men)

Organizations National Association for Continence (NAFC) P.O. Box 1019 Charleston, SC 29402-1019 ...